Saki declares fight for citizens' dignity, women's rights

The top priority of a city administration is to provide city residents with all civic amenities without any hassle, said mayoral aspirant of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Zonayed Saki yesterday.

"If people's rights to a clean and liveable city are protected, they would actively participate in the management of the city on their own," he said as he read out his manifesto at Jatiya Press Club in the capital.

"Through the use of modern technology we will make details of all transactions and budgetary allocations of the city corporation available for public scrutiny. If there are irregularities, the citizens will hold us accountable," he said.

He will set up public toilets at every ward and launch specialised city buses for people with disabilities, reads his manifesto, adding that a half of Dhaka city residents are women and the city depends on hundreds of  thousands of their labour and contribution to the economy.

The charter promises to establish child care centres where working mothers can leave their children during daytime, and speaks of modern traffic management and infrastructure development.

On saving the environment, he promises, "We will save Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakkhya -- the four rivers around Dhaka -- from pollution and also take prompt steps to curb air pollution." 

City transport system, food adulteration, healthcare, education, minimum wage for workers, special services for slum dwellers, and people's participation in the administration are also among the priorities mentioned.