Ruling party Awami League (AL) mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has announced a 30-year master plan and a five-point to-do list in his election manifesto. He promised to deliver to the citizens, if elected, a traditional and beautiful Dhaka, which would also be a vibrant, well-governed, and developed city. He also vowed to make the DSCC corruption-free.

“The DSCC will remain open round-the-clock to serve the city dwellers,” he promised. Barrister Taposh came up with these yesterday while announcing his poll manifesto at the AL central office in the capital. He said that he would introduce a coordinated one-stop service centre at DSCC, if elected, to help the citizens avail utility services quickly.

According to his election manifesto, health centres, focusing on mother–child care and family planning, would be set up across the city. An adequate number of hostels for women and students will also be built up. A 24/7 helpline and app will be activated. The AL mayoral candidate also promised the city dwellers access to basic amenities within 90 days of his assuming the office. “If elected, I will build the Dhaka central jail area as a heritage site. I will build a museum and art gallery with coordinated efforts.”

He also promised to preserve and restore the traditional characteristics of old Dhaka through a master plan. “Roads will be divided into separate lanes for high-speed vehicles, for medium-speed vehicles, and some will be dedicated to walking.” The mayoral candidate also hoped that the civic body under his leadership would eradicate mosquitoes.

Taposh’s election pledges, among other things, included the strengthening of the panchayat system to check social crimes, introduction of separate lanes for motorised and non-motorised vehicles, ensuring good governance, making the city tourist-friendly, carrying massive development on the banks of the Buriganga river, and constructing fire-hydrant points in narrow alleys and effluent treatment plants in industries.

To ensure that the capital realises its potential, Taposh said, Dhaka should be revived. Among others, Ruling party leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Mozaffar Hossain Poltu, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury, Bahauddin Nasim, Abu Ahmed Mannafi, and Apu Ukil were present at the time of unveiling the poll manifesto.