Ctg Mayor Nasir feels urgency for city govt

Chittagong Mayor AZM Nasir Uddin yesterday stressed the need for introduction of city government, which will bring all public service providers under one umbrella for better coordination and make the mayor the city's head, thus improving services at the city corporations.

"It is not possible to improve services without better coordination among the service providing agencies, and it will be best if the coordination comes under a legal framework," he told a press conference at the capital's Jatiya Press Club, organised by Chittagong Journalist Forum Dhaka (CJFD).

Nasir said governance of city corporations was totally dependent on the central government now, and he would request the prime minister to introduce city government.

According to an April 24 report of The Daily Star, the city corporation does not have legal or financial mandate to work in a number of areas concerning power production, construction of waterways, conservation of flood plains, or introduction of commuter train services. There are different implementing agencies of the government for each area, it said.

Every mayor feels the need of city government while they start working, Nasir said, adding that he would discuss the issue with other mayors.

Nasir also said he would take every risk to implement the city master plans for the welfare of the residents.

As a mayor, he said, he would maintain transparency and honesty in his work and would brook no corruption and political influence.

The new mayor said Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) would start collecting garbage at night from September 1, to reduce traffic congestion and give people respite from the malodour spreading during waste collection.

About the chronic and debilitating waterlogging of his city, Nasir said the corporation would prepare a comprehensive master plan to improve the drainage and sewerage system, and it had already got positive responses from the World Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) for funding.

Initiatives were also taken to reclaim canals from the grabbers, he said.

About the poor condition of the port city roads, Nasir said quality was not maintained during their construction.  

It is necessary to take initiatives in a more planned way to repair roads, and he will ensure the quality of repairs, he said.

Saif Islam Dilal, president of CJFD, also addressed the press conference.