Chattogram Bureau :
Chatttogram Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said that the work is going on to make the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) a real public service institution by freeing it from liabilities. He gave this information in the speech of the chief guest at the pre-budget (2024-25) discussion meeting at CCC office in Tigerpass on Wednesday (May 15).
The mayor said, I faced a very complicated situation with liabilities after taking office as mayor. However, we have paid off the debt of about 1100 crores to about 500 crores of taka with various strategies including austerity, reduction of wastage.
The current debt amount is 440 crores. Various financial steps have been taken to turn the Chittagong City Corporation into a real public service institution by paying off the remaining debts.
Highlighting the financial limitations of CCC, the mayor said that the comprehensive activities of Chasik, including education and health, cannot be completed with the income of a few sectors including holding tax. For this, income should be provided from various sectors including the port. He said that children’s parks and playgrounds will be provided in every ward of the city for the physical and mental development of children.
Mayor said, Chittagong is a tourist city, but I cannot boast. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has done a lot of work for the development of Chittagong but we have not been able to organize Chittagong collectively. He requested the intervention of the Prime Minister to take measures to collect city development charges from the port and customs for the development of Chittagong.
Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Muhammad Touhidul Islam presided over the budget, former professor of Chittagong University Department of Economics.