Jatiya Party mayoral candidate Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa and Awami League candidate Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia announced the election manifesto on Friday after receiving the Rangpur City Corporation (RASIK) election symbols. Meanwhile, Mustafa pledged to work on transforming the 250-year-old city into a 'smart city'. And Dalia has promised to take various initiatives to increase employment.
At the press conference at the temporary office of the Jatiya Party Rangpur metropolis on College Road in the city, Mustafa, the candidate of the plow symbol, gave a 31-point manifesto to make Rangpur a modern and planned green city. In this, to protect the beauty of the city, he has claimed that he will do developmental activities according to the already prepared master plan including reviving Shyamasundari canal, improved waste management, traffic congestion relief. The outgoing mayor said, "If re-elected, I want to make the city a modern, clean, beautiful, safe and planned metropolis."
The former mayor said that a consultant has already been appointed at a cost of 86 lakh taka to revive the Shyamasundari canal to preserve the beauty of the city. Preparation of a DPP of Rs.2200 crore is in final stage. Through this the waterlogging of the city will be removed. Modern urban buildings will be constructed after land acquisition to facilitate delivery of civic services.
He said that the modern city corporation is waiting for the publication of the gazette of the master plan ready for construction. Three Regional Offices of the City Corporation and 33 Wards will be constructed with their own Ward Complex to facilitate citizen services and deliver services at the doorsteps of the citizens. An app named 'Rangpur App' will be developed to provide service and grievance redressal to the citizens. In the overall development of the city, a sustainable development plan will be adopted and implemented by the urban planners and eminent persons.
On the other hand, Awami League candidate Dalia has announced various plans in the election manifesto including the planned development of Rangpur metropolis, elimination of waterlogging, elimination of unemployment, transition from traffic congestion problem and orderliness on roads.
In the 29-point manifesto of the Awami League party office in Rangpur city, the former member of parliament said that if he is elected as the mayor, he will arrange for rickshaw and auto-rickshaw movement by building a one-way road on both sides of the Shyamasundari canal. Initiatives will be taken to develop schools and colleges under the local government, increase employment for women, reduce unemployment. He will set up six fire service stations in the city, bring ambulances to community clinics, take separate initiatives for women in the development of handicrafts and cottage industries, and provide fast gas connection.
Dalia said that by establishing EPZs in the divisional city areas with gas connection at homes, they will take initiative to build factories with government support. To alleviate the traffic congestion in the main city, measures will be taken to construct flyovers and modern car parking lots at pedestrian crossings, underpasses and railgate areas. A master plan will be adopted to free the Shyamasundari canal running through the city and make it like Dhaka's Hatirjheel.
Earlier in the morning, in a festive atmosphere, symbols were allotted among 255 candidates for the posts of 9 mayors, general councilors and reserved women councilors. Voting will be held on December 27. This time the voters are 4 lakh 26 thousand.
