Manju to form 30-member advisory body inducting into it ex-mayors for planned dev; New Mayor to turn Ctg into modern city free from waterlogging

Interview
By AKM Moinuddin

Dhaka, Jul 30 (UNB) - Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Manjur Alam
Manju has planned to form a 30-member advisory body inducting into it
former mayors and lawmakers for planned development of the port city
considered as the commercial capital of the country.
Lawyers, engineers, doctors, urban planners, cultural activists and
two former experienced councilors will also be on the advisory body,
he said in an interview with UNB Correspondent AKM Moinuddin at his
corporation office.
The advisory body will be functioning within a month and it will give
policy support to the city corporation in preparing plans and
successful implementation of development projects, he said, adding he
will formally invite them within next couple of days and also meet
with former Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
The new Mayor, the guardian of nearly 40 lakh people of Chittagong
metropolis, said he has already started “work for change” giving
priority to removal of the perennial problem of water-logging from
the city.
Manju who took the charge formally on July 20 does not want to shelve
any of his election pledges made to the city dwellers; rather he
wants to show his sincerity for planned development of the city.
“People gave me big responsibility. I want a clean city which will be
free from water-logging and where all inhabitants will get desired
civic services. What I need is cooperation from all.”
Asked about his priority sectors for development, Manju said: “Water-
logging, education, health and infrastructure development are being
given priority.”
Manju unveiled his maiden city corporation budget of Tk 741.51 crore
for 2010-11 on Thursday, reflecting his plan to address the
water-logging problem on a priority basis.
“A Tk 50 crore tender under the new budget will be floated to develop
infrastructures for removing the water logging,” he said.
Manju said standing committees have already been formed to deal
effectively with the issues of water-logging and traffic jam. “The
corporation will start full-scale work to remove water-logging during
the dry season.”
The Mayor also expressed his desires to build Chittagong as a digital
city, apart from construction of a world-class hospital and a
convention center.
Asked about reported lack of accountability in the city corporation
in the past, he said: “We’ll ensure accountability and
transparency.” The corporation would take action if any irregularity
is found, no matter it happened in the past or if happens in the
future, he added.
Manju looks optimistic and intends to work unitedly with cooperation
from all, irrespective of party affiliation, for smooth improvement
of the port city. However, he does not want to stop any of the
ongoing development projects initiated in the past.
He said the city corporation will extend its full support if any
individual or organization comes forward to turn Chittagong into a
city of tourism.
“The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very sincere for development of
Chittagong City…she assured me of all-out support,” said Manju.
Asked about the case filed by former Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury
for concealing information in the affidavit while submitting his
nomination papers, Manju said he would face it through legal
procedure. “He (Mohiuddin) is a wise politician. He has the right.
But it’ll be settled in the court.”
Asked about his plan to resolve power crisis in the city, Manju said
the city corporation would look into the generation of power by its
own means.
The new mayor does not have any plan to do politics with country’s
key seaport. “But, I want to see the port functioning better. If they
(port authorities) want my support, I’ll definitely extend that for
development of port and to keep it functional.”
Asked about former Mayor Mohiuddin’s role in the port related issues,
Manju said: “He (Mohiuddin) is a seasoned politician. I’m not. I won’
t do politics with the port.”
The Mayor said only few days have passed since he took the office.
“It would be premature to make any comment. So far I didn’t find any
difficulty to run the corporation.”
END/UNB/AKM