Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday stressed protecting the port city of
Chittagong to protect Bangladesh as it is the country’s economic lifeline.
“We need to protect Chittagong city if we want to protect Bangladesh. It’s our economic lifeline and commercial hub. It’s the high time to think about Chittagong for its systematic development,” he told a crowded meet-the-press programme at the Jatiya Press Club in the city. Describing his corporation’s indiscipline and fragilities, Nasir vowed to turn it into an effective body to ensure greater development of the important city in the interest of the country. Chittagong Journalists’ Forum Dhaka (CJFD) arranged the event with its president Saif Islam Dilal in the chair. Former cultural affairs secretary of the government Ranjit Kumar Biswas, CJFD general secretary Shamim Jahangir, former leaders Mostafa Kamal and Anup Khastagir were present.
In his first appearance before the press in Dhaka after taking over charge, the mayor said Chittagong is an exceptional city by nature and the entire country will remain neglected if Chittagong is neglected.
Nasir, also Awami League Chittagong city unit general sectary, said he is ready to take any personal risk for the development of Chittagong. “I’m ready to take any personal risk, as my agenda is to implement projects maintaining transparency,” he said. The CCC mayor said he will never patronise corruption in the corporation and it will remain free from political influence. “The good thing is that the Prime Minister herself is sincere about Chittagong’s development.”
Responding to a question, he said they have already identified the problems and now they will take up proper projects and implement those with utmost sincerity and honesty. About the city’s major problem, water logging, he said they have already talked to WASA authorities; and the World Bank and JICA may come up with funds for implementing some projects to improve sewerage system in Chittagong.
The city mayor said the seven major departments of the corporation, including health, education and engineering are run with acting heads apart from low capacity of workforces. He emphasised building dams to protect the city from the surge of water apart from improved sewerage system.
