‘Mayor’s powers insufficient to solve problems’

Several mayoral aspirants for the Dhaka North City Corporation today observed that the prevailing problems of city dwellers cannot be solved due to absence of adequate power vested in a mayor.

The existing power of a mayor is not adequate to solve the problems that city dwellers face, said several mayoral aspirants at a view exchange meeting today.

Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) and Nagarik Adhikar Sangrakhan Forum jointly organised the programme at Gulshan-1 where a total of 14 out of 16 mayoral aspirants for the DNCC poll were present.

Of the contenders, Awami League-backed Annisul Huq, BNP backed Tabith Awal and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh-backed, Mahi B Chowdhury said that the existing scope and nature of a mayor is not adequate to resolve all problems of the city dwellers.    

A total 21-point demand on behalf of the voters of the DNCC was also placed before the mayoral aspirants during the programme.

After going through the demand-paper, BNP-blessed mayoral aspirant Tabith Awal said, most of the issues are beyond the resolving capacity of a mayor due to absence of adequate power.

“My first aim will be to inform people about their citizen rights and to realise these,” he said.

“I am interested to show my income and expenditure statistic twice in a year,” Tabith further said showing attention over a query raised by Shujan.

When asked about criminal activities he said, “I will try to root out the criminal activities through police mapping if I voted to power in the mayoral race.”

The ruling Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Annisul Huq said he wants to turn the DNCC into a green city where people will live in a safe and healthy atmosphere.

The city dwellers face around 80 percent common problems that can be solved with skilled, honest and dedicated leadership, he added.

Responding to a query, Annisul said, “I have been investing my merit and intellectual labour to make my effort a success.”

Mahi B Chowdhury, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh-backed candidate said most of the problems of the city dwellers cannot be solved without collective efforts of the people from all corners.

Mahi also hinted about the introduction of the city government process to solve the prevailing problems of the city dweller smoothly.