Published in: Dhaka Tribune, May 15th, 2017

Editors of the country’s print renowned print, online and electronic media have urged Dhaka North Mayor Annisul Huq to take an overall approach for the development of his jurisdiction area.
Speaking at a view exchange meeting with the mayor yesterday, the editors said the development plans should cover the entirety of Dhaka North, rather than focusing on upscale areas like Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara.
The event, organised by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), took place at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka on Monday to observe the second anniversary of Annisul’s election as the DNCC mayor.
In the first two years of Annisul’s mayorship, areas such as Lalmatia have not seen much of a development, said the Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman.
“I live in Lalmatia. I hope you will consider Lalmatia when you devise development projects,” he told Annisul.
Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta has similar complaints, saying Annisul’s development schemes were mostly concentrated on Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara areas, leaving areas like Rampura and Badda in a bad shape.
“Are you aware of the poor condition of roads in Rampura? I live there… all the alleys and roads are in ruins. People are now saying that you [Annisul] are a mayor for the rich only,” he said.
Responding to Shyamal’s remarks, the DNCC mayor said: “In the last two years, we have been able to complete only 30% of the work I promised to do in my election manifesto. It is not possible to start development work all around the DNCC at the same time as our fund is limited.”
He said infrastructural development was necessary everywhere in his jurisdiction.
“But we will get there… all of you can help us implement our development projects properly,” the mayor added.
The senior journalists asked the DNCC mayor to take steps to promote social and cultural activities in every ward of the city corporation as well.
Annisul further said a large portion of the fund allocated for the DNCC in the budget of 2017-18 fiscal year would be used for the renovation of less developed areas like Rampura, Farmgate, Mohammadpur and others.
He said the development of DNCC areas was starting to show.
“Someone said Dhaka is one of the worst cities in the world, but I disagree… I ask everyone to stay and cooperate with us, and you will see a new and different Dhaka,” the mayor promised.
The event was also attended by the Daily Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar, the Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, the prime minister’s media adviser and the Daily Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) President Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, and the Daily Kalerkantho Editor Imdadul Haque Milon, as well as ward councillors and high officials of the DNCC.