Khoka urges govt not to split DCC

FE Report Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka Saturday demanded of the government to rescind from its decision to split the corporation and declare election schedule immediately. "I will resign if the government declares the election schedule immediately," he mentioned. Terming the government decision to split the DCC "suicidal and a bolt from the blue to him and the city dwellers" he said, "I request the government not to split the city corporation. Declare mayoral election schedule. I will not contest," he told a crowded press briefing held at the conference room of the National Press Club (NPC). The mayor said if the government split the mega city Dhaka, his party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), would not be in the polling race. "We (BNP) will not participate in the election. If BNP returns to power then it will reintegrate the city," he said and added that the movement against the decision will continue by the employees of DCC, city dwellers and civil society as well. He said that he had no intention to retain the mayoral post. He said, "even after the public demand for DCC polls, the government was hatching conspiracy to split the city." "The government has taken the decision out of political vengeance. Finding no appropriate candidate- and observing my popularity- the government is now conspiring to split the 400-year old city - a place which witnessed many historical events," the mayor said. Mr Khoka said no conscious person would understand about the government decision to split the corporation -- as there was no such example in the globe. He said at the time of his taking over the charge as mayor on May 15, 2002, the DCC loan was Tk 6.31 billion which was paid by the corporation. He said despite limitations, the DCC had improved civic facilities, developed roads and street lights, tackled mosquito menace for the last nine and half years with the support of the city dwellers and the efforts of the corporation employees and staffs. He said the DCC was not taking any loan to implement its development works. "DCC is not taking any loan now. It has now a fund of Tk 3.78 billion," he said.