DHAKA, Feb 27, 2020 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked
the newly elected mayors and councillors of Dhaka North and South city
corporations to take effective measures in advance to control the dengue
borne Aedes mosquitoes ahead of the rainy season.
“Dengue is now appeared as a problem. You (newly elected Mayors and
councillors) would have to take measures against the mosquito (Aedes) from
now,” she said.
The prime minister was addressing the oath-taking ceremony of newly-
elected mayors and councillors of the Dhaka north and south city corporations
at her office here this morning.
She also asked them to ensure proper utilisation of the anti-mosquito
medicines in controlling the Aedes, saying, “You would have to make your best
possible efforts in checking dengue keeping in mind that mosquitoes can’t eat
up your votes.”
The premier also asked them to carry out the directives of the government
for the welfare of the people in their localities.
She also asked them to take necessary measures to check coronavirus in
line with the government initiatives to check coronavirus.
In this context, she said her government has already dedicated a hospital
and given training to the physicians and nurses as part of the precautionary
measures.
Earlier, the Prime Minister administered the oath of office to Dhaka South
City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Dhaka North City
Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam at Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s
Office (PMO) here.
Besides, Local Government Minister Md Tazul Islam administered the oath of
offices to 172 councillors from the general wards and reserved women’s seats
in the two city corporation at the same venue.
The polls to the DSCC and DNCC were held on February 1.
Awami League-backed candidates- Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and
Atiqul Islam-swept the elections as residents of the capital elected their
mayors to hold the offices of DSCC and DNCC for next five years.
Alongside the two elected mayors, 100 councillors – 75 general councillors
from 75 ward and 25 women councillors from 25 reserved seats-were elected in
DSCC, while 72 councillors – 54 general councillors from 54 ward and 18 women
councillors from 18 reserved seats-in DNCC.
However, the newly elected mayors and councillors will have to wait until
the middle of May to take charge as the five-year tenure of the incumbent
representatives of DSCC will expire on May 17 while that of DNCC on May 13
next.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary
Obaidul Quader, Local Government Minister Md Tazul Islam and the newly
elected mayors were also present on the dais.
Sheikh Hasina called upon the public representatives to oversee the development programmes being implemented in their localities to ensure proper use of public money.
The prime minister said her government will not tolerate any corruption in the development projects, particularly the large scale ones.
“If anyone is found involved in corruption, will not be spared whoever they might be,” she added.
The premier said the ongoing drives against terrorism, militancy, drug and corruption will continue on.
She called upon the newly elected mayors and councillors to work in their localities to check those as part of the move to save the new generation from the social menaces.
The premier urged the public representatives to work for the welfare of the people saying that victory in polls is not enough rather they (public representatives) must win the hearts of the masses.
She added: “So, you’ll have to work for the welfare of the people irrespective of the party affiliations and uphold the trust and confidence that the people have restored on you.”
Sheikh Hasina said public representatives would have to work for the development of their respective areas to earn satisfaction of the people.
Spelling out various measures taken for the overall development of the country, the premier said her government has been working for reaching the fruit of development to every people.
“We are now taking rural centric development projects as part of the move to provide all the facilities of city to the rural people,” she added.
The premier said her government has been implementing 90 percent development projects with its own finance, adding that the size of the national budged has increased by seven times during the tenure of the government.
She said her government has been working to strengthen the local government bodies as they can take the development of their own localities and formulate their budgets.
‘We’re working not only to develop the urban areas, we’re also working to develop the rural areas too,’ she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, expressed her profound gratitude to the countrymen for reelecting her party and giving her chance to celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She said that the aim of the government was to materialise the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to turn the country into a Sonar Bangla (golden Bengal).
The prime minister said that the government had already announced 2020-21 as ‘Mujib Borsho’, adding, “None will remain homeless after the Mujib Year.”
She mentioned that the government has adopted Delta Plan 2100 for the future generation of the country.
The premier said that her government has been setting up 100 special economic zones as part of the move for planned industrialisation.
“The aim of this move is to restrict setting up industries indiscriminately on the cropland,” she added.
She said that after setting up these economic zones, the country would move towards industrialisation further with employment generation.
The premier said her government has been working to transform Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country by 2041 as dreamt by the father of the nation.