Ishraque pledges to restore fundamental citizen rights
Ishraque said his electioneering was aimed at advancing the movement against the unjust imprisonment of Begum Khaleda Zia and liberating her
Ishraque Hossain, the mayoral candidate for the February 1 Dhaka South City Corporation election, has promised to ensure corruption-free civic services and build a balanced, livable world class city.
During publication of his election manifesto at the National Press Club on Tuesday, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed candidate, Ishraque labelled the ongoing infrastructure development in Dhaka as 'discriminatory'.
"If the development doesn't offer employment, but intensifies regional discrimination and widens the gap between rich and poor, it would be a farce to call it a role model," he said.
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Seeking voters' support, he added that his electioneering was aimed at advancing the movement against the unjust imprisonment of Begum Khaleda Zia and of liberating her.
In his election manifesto, Ishraque outlined 144 proposals under 13 points which focused on public amenities, social work and public safety.
Ishraque said a concerted plan will be formulated for the next 50 years to address traffic congestion and lack of discipline in the transportation system. He plans to build underpasses, bus-bays and subways in phases.
To ensure road safety, the mayor candidate pledged to properly coordinate concerned authorities like DMP, BRTA to help smoothen the movement of buses.
He also pledged to coordinate development work among other service organisations to reduce public suffering caused by road repair and service network maintenance.
His election manifesto pledges to prevent food adulteration and poisoning by establishing a "food laboratory" in every kitchen market of the city.
Ishraque also plans to implement an Integrated Vector Management system to fight the mosquito menace.
Moreover, he plans to establish comprehensive reproductive healthcare and primary healthcare centers for the wellbeing of women and children.
"To ensure transparency, the taxpayers would be informed twice in a fiscal with all monetary reports," he said.
In his election manifesto Ishraque pledged to develop a skilled workforce by providing vocational training for poor youths.
He plans to use "mist blowers" to get rid of dust, and to emphasise "source control" to develop a city that is free of air, sound and environment pollution.
Ishraque also plans to transfer the water held by the DND dam to the Sitalakkha river to reduce waterlogging in the Jatrabari-Demra area.
He has promised to develop river-based recreation centres and water-tourism by depolluting the Buriganga river and saving the river banks.
The BNP-backed mayoral candidate has announced that he will build hospitals and day-care centres for all labourers, including garment factory workers. He has pledged to build safe homes and a transportation system for workers – especially women – in the garments sector.
As part of disaster management, Ishraque has pledged to set up trauma centres and provide counselling services to victims of accidents or disasters.
BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Khandaker Mosarraf Hossain, JSD leader ASM Abdur Rab, Gano Forum leader Reza Kibria and Nagorik Oikya leader Mahmudur Rahman Manna, among others, were present at the event.
