Safe, world class city

Plagued by perennial problems, Dhaka and Chittagong -- our two major cities -- go to polls on April 28. What will a mayoral hopeful do to solve those problems if elected? How all the modern amenities will be ensured? What is his vision for the future of the city? Looking for the answers, The Daily Star has talked to a mayoral candidate. 

Ridding the city of traffic congestion, addressing waterlogging and checking anomalies in city services are the main promises mayor aspirant Saifuddin Ahmed Milon is making to woo voters of Dhaka South City Corporation.

Endorsed by Jatiya Party, businessman-politician Milon wants to do these with a vision.

"I have visited a lot of countries. With this experience, I want to make my city safe, green and clean like those in Europe and America.

"If I am elected mayor, I will share my ideas and experience with the city planners and architects to give this city a complete facelift of world standard.

"So, I humbly request my voters to give me a chance. If I cannot deliver as per your [voters'] expectations, I will not hesitate to step down," the JP presidium member said in an interview with The Daily Star earlier this week.

Milon, who was born and brought up in the city's Lalbagh area, said: "I want to see my birthplace as one of the best cities in the world. And for this, I want to change everything, especially the infrastructure and narrow roads in Old Dhaka."

"People living in Dhaka South are facing scores of problems like traffic congestion, crimes, drugs, mosquito, mismanagement of waste, and air and water pollution.

I want to solve all these.

"Waterlogging is another major problem in the old part of Dhaka. I will give priority on this issue … Besides, there is hardly any park or playgrounds for people in Dhaka South. I will also work on this," said the former national footballer.

The 50-year old also pledged to bring back the long-lost beauty of the Buriganga river by evicting illegal encroachments. "I want to turn the Buriganga a beautiful spot like the Hatirjheel lake."

Milon has been in politics for around 32 years and city-dwellers may have noticed his face in posters on buses or walls before every Eid and other major occasions.

A successful businessman, he is currently the president of Dhaka Rexine, Plastic Leather Shoe-Material Multipurpose Cooperative and Bangladesh Rexine Plastic & Leather Shoe-Material Importers' Association.

He is doing well in his businesses. Why does he still want to contest the DSCC mayoral polls scheduled for April 28?

"I want to serve people … I don't want to make money in politics, which most politicians do … With the blessing of Almighty Allah, I am well established as a businessman and I have sufficient money for myself and my family members," bragged Milon who in his wealth statement to the Election Commission showed his annual income to be Tk 1.74 crore.

"At last, I want to tell the voters that I will not tolerate any corruption while running the city corporation as I value honesty above everything else," Milon concluded.