Staff Reporter :Mayor candidates of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have pledged that they would transform Dhaka into a modern city with all civic facilities and free from corruptions if they are elected in the upcoming election. They also urged the young voters to cast their vote for capable candidates without considering their political affiliations at a discussion in the city. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh organized the discussion at Spectra Convention Centre in the city on Wednesday. Dhaka University teacher Rubaiyat Ferdous moderated the programme with a number of young voters asking questions to 12 Mayor aspirants of the DNCC in the discussion. BNP backed candidate Tabith Awal said if he is elected he would improve the city bus service. Special buses would be arranged in the city especially for expectant mothers, elderly people and people with disabilities, he said. Tabith also gave assurance of all modern facilities for the city dwellers.Abdullah Al Kafi asked the voters not to take the election as a tussle between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina or BNP or Awami League. “When you cast your vote, don’t think of the candidates’ party affiliations. Cast your vote considering the candidate’s capability,” he said. He assured the audience that he would build a corruption free Dhaka and take effective measure to educate the illiterate people of the city. Nader Chowdhury stressed the need for stern action against the drug peddlers and the people who are pulling strings from behind. “The people involved in drug smuggling should be punished like war criminals,” he said. He also vowed to free the capital from corruptions if he is elected DNCC Mayor.Sheikh Shahiduzzaman said if he is elected mayor, he would arrange a flat for each people with disabilities. Bikolpodhara leader Mahi B Chowdhury said a distance has been developed between the government and people. “The young people cannot ask many questions to the government, but they can raise their questions to the mayor candidates,” he said, adding that if is elected he would be available to all take their questions. Moazzem Hossain Khan Majlish mentioned the shortage of play grounds in the city. “There is dearth of play fields. I’ll arrange adequate fields for the children and young people of the capital,” he said. Junaed Abdur Rahim Saki said the young generation should take their decision if they want to change in the society. “This election will decide the direction to which the country will move,” he said. Among other candidates, Anisuzzaman Khokon, Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Bari Mas’ud, Kazi Mohammad Shahidullah, Mohammad Zaman Bhuiyan and AYM Kamrul Islam also spoke on the occasion. Resident representative of UNDP in Bangladesh Robert Watkins also spoke at the function.
