Ctg Mayor Nasir changes priority

Less than a month into being elected mayor, Awami League leader AJM Nasir Uddin yesterday reversed his position and changed his top priority and main electoral pledge, which was to end the crippling waterlogging of Chittagong city.

Nasir repeatedly bashed his predecessor and main rival in the April 28 city corporation election, Manjur Alam, for the latter's "failure" in solving the waterlogging problem, and pledged to end it once and for all through short-, mid-, and long-term plans.

However, while addressing a reception for the 55 newly elected councillors at Laldighi Maidan, the new mayor dismissed waterlogging as "not so big a problem".

A citizens' platform, Nagorik Sangbardhana Committee, organised it.

"Uncleanliness is the main problem of the city, as we suffer from it on all 365 days of the year," said Nasir. "On the other hand, waterlogging causes sufferings to the masses only during the monsoon.

"...waterlogging happens for a few hours, and within two to four hours the water drains out."