Project files disappear from ministry unsigned: Ctg Mayor Shahadat
The allocation was reduced to Tk298 crore, with Tk100 crore cut, while Tk160 crore was offered as a loan at 5% interest.
Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Shahadat Hossain has alleged that project files sent to ministries for approval often "disappear" and remain unsigned, delaying crucial development work.
He made the remarks yesterday (22 September) at the inauguration of the "Cleanliness Awareness Campaign 2025" held at Chittagong Independent University (CIU) campus in Jamal Khan area of the city.
The mayor said three projects are currently pending at the LGRD Ministry.
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"When the adviser looks at the file, he does not keep it in the ministry; he takes it home. The file disappears from the ministry. After that, it does not get signed from home, and the file does not come back. This has been my experience for 11 months," he said.
He added that a project worth almost Tk400 crore to buy equipment for the city corporation was sent to the Finance Ministry but was not approved in full.
The allocation was reduced to Tk298 crore, with Tk100 crore cut, while Tk160 crore was offered as a loan at 5% interest.
"The file is still there. I keep going to the ministry, but the work is not moving forward. The equipment in use is 15–20 years old. If the new project is not implemented, solving the waterlogging problem will not be possible. These failures are not just the fault of the city but also of the state and the government," Shahadat Hossain said.
Responding to the comments, the chief guest of the event, Faez Ahmed Tayyab, special assistant to the chief adviser in charge of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, said government resources were limited.
"The government's revenue is limited. It is not possible to give additional funds just because someone wants them. With the allocation that has been received, development work must begin so that the people of Chattogram are not deprived," he said.
He further stressed that the city should focus on becoming financially self-reliant.
"The more the city corporation is dependent on the government, the more it will fall behind. It must be proven that the city can run on its own income."
The event was presided over by CIU Vice Chancellor Professor MM Nurul Absar.
Also present were Dainik Azadi editor MA Malek, Chattogram Development Authority Chairman Mohammad Nurul Karim, and City Corporation Chief Cleanliness Officer Commander Ikhtiyar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury
