Green, clean and smart Sylhet
With a vision for a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and technologically advanced Sylhet city, the Awami League's mayoral candidate Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury yesterday unveiled his 21-point election manifesto.
The manifesto, titled "Green-Clean-Smart Sylhet, Swapna Purone, Amrar Sylhet," was unveiled at a city hotel in the presence of journalists, as well as central and local leaders from the Awami League.
It puts forward a range of promises aimed at improving various aspects of life in Sylhet city. These include increased disaster awareness and preparedness to ensure the safety of residents, as well as the establishment of parks and playgrounds to promote recreation and a healthier lifestyle.
The manifesto also highlights the importance of human development and vows to address social crimes to create a more secure and harmonious community.
Recognising the significance of education and culture, Anwaruzzaman emphasised creating a city that is friendly and supportive towards these areas.
Besides, his manifesto aims to foster an environment that is conducive to the growth of businesses, ensuring economic prosperity and job opportunities for the residents. Efforts to tackle traffic congestion and provide efficient transportation systems are also among his priorities.
The manifesto underscores the need for a participatory and well-governed city, highlighting the importance of citizen engagement and transparent governance.
WILL HE DELIVER IF ELECTED ?
Though Anwaruzzaman's manifesto is full of promises, most of these were previously made by present Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury and former mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran in the 2013 and 2018 elections.
As a mayor, Kamran served the city from 2002 to 2013 and Ariful since 2013.
Sylhet city has been suffering from an increased waterlogging problem for over two decades, and the 2022 flood almost disabled the urban life of the city for weeks.
With heavy rainfall from Wednesday morning, many parts of the city are inundated and the issue is being discussed among the citizens.
For the last 10 years, the government spent more than Tk 1,000 crore to prevent waterlogging but the result is disappointing.
Ariful is widely being criticised as he made the promise to solve the waterlogging woes in the 2013 and 2018 elections, and failed in this regard.
Anwaruzzaman in his manifesto similarly promised to solve waterlogging, recover nine natural canals of the city and construct a dyke by the Surma river to prevent flooding.
Meanwhile, his promise of a green, clean and environment-friendly city is being praised by the residents as he is pledging to plant more trees and save waterbodies and hillocks.
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