The newly elected mayors of Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet city corporations were sworn in today (Sunday).The swearing-in ceremony took place at International Conference Center at the Prime Minister’s office.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina administered the oath to the mayors while LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam administered the oath to the councilors of the four city corporations.
The four city mayors are Ariful Haque Chowdhury (Sylhet), M Mosaddek Hossain (Rajshahi), M Moniruzzaman Moni (Khulna) and M Ahsan Habib Kamal (Barisal).
The Prime Minister signed the oath papers and handed over those to the respective mayors.
Speaking briefly on the occasion, the Prime Minister said her government has proved that free, fair and neutral election is possible under a political government.
“People irrespective of party affiliation have voted for you spontaneously and you should work for the welfare of the people as per your oath despite your loyalty to your party,” she said.
Hasina said the outgoing mayors have implemented massive development programmes in four city corporations in the last four years, which was never done in the past.
She requested the new mayors to maintain the continuity of the current pace of development activities, saying “this is the desire of the people.”
The Prime Minister suggested the mayors that as elected representatives they should work for the welfare of the people rising above their political identity.
“You should perform your respective duties maintaining the democratic process to fulfill the expectations of the people,” she said.
Hasina congratulated the new mayors and councilors and asked them to work together for building the nation.
The elected mayors, their family members, and the councilors joined the Prime Minister in photo session.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Syed Modasser Ali, State Minister for LGRD Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and Media Adviser to the Prime Minister and Awami League chief Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury were, among others, present.
The opposition-backed mayoral candidates won the elections to the four city corporations held on June 15 defeating the ruling party-supported candidates with impressive margins.
In Rajshahi City Corporation, Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul’s win has brought the BNP leader back to the helm of the city after a gap of five years.
Awami League favourite AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, who was elected mayor in 2008, lost to Bulbul by a margin of 47,332 votes.
The election to Khulna City Corporation saw the return of a local BNP leader to the mayoral post after five years. BNP favourite Moniruzzaman Moni beat AL-backed Talukder Abdul Khaleque by 60,671 votes.
On the day the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave financial assistance of Tk 12 lakh to the family of Ejaz Uddin Chowdhury Kaikobad.
Kaikobad died while taking part the rescue operation following the tragic Rana Plaza collapse in Savar last April.
The PM handed over savings certificates for the amount to the family of the victim at her office (PMO).
Hasina also handed over savings certificates worth Tk 20 lakh to the family members of slain executive engineer of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation M Towhidul Islam.
Engineer Towhidul Islam was killed by communal extremists in Sonamasjid area of Chapainawabganj district on 28th February this year.
The Prime Minister also gave financial support for the treatment of Harun ar Rashid, son of late Mohammad Nasim Khan, the leader of stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, an eight-member delegation of Bangladesh of Bouddha Prachar Sangha led by Shuddhananda Mohathero also called on the Prime Minister at her office. – UNB
