The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Business leaders in the city yesterday said that they want to get former FBCCI president and eminent industrialist Abdul Awal Mintoo as Mayor of the capital because he has the capacity to ensure civic facilities.

"We want a leader who has a plan and who has vision to make the capital livable," FBCCI president Annisul Huq told a views exchange meeting at BIAM auditorium, extending his full support to Mintoo and drumming up his demand to elect a mayor from business community.

Present and former directors and general body members of FBCCI organised the meeting titled " How would you like Dhaka to be?" President of Bangladesh Paint, Dyes and Chemical Merchants Association Alhajj Abdus Salam presided over the meeting.

Former FBCCI president Abdul Awal Mintoo, present director Anwar Hosen, former director Amir Hosain Khan, ASM Kamal Uddin, Shafiullah Chowdhury and Enayet Hossain Chowdhury spoke on the occasion.

Former FBCCI president MA Kashem, Mahbubur Rahman, Mir Nasir Hossain, present vice presidents Abul Kashem Ahmed and Abul Alam Chowdhury, former vice president Abdul Momen and present and former directors were present among the dignitaries. General body members of FBCCI and noted personalities raised their hands supporting Mintoo's vision about the capital city.

Annisul Huq said Dhaka, the city of millions of people, lacks a leader for long who has the vision to plan this unplanned city. In Bangladesh politics got more importance than business, he added.

"Businessmen should be more organised to bring changes in the city. If a businessman takes charge of the city, he will be able to ensure the facilities that we are entitled to get as taxpayer," he said and urged the politicians to keep Mayor election free from politicisation.

Abdul Awal Mintoo said people could know a country seeing the situation of it's capital city. "I have visited 460 mahalla's in the city of which most are unliveable for people. No country will let it's people live in such environment which Dhaka people are experiencing."

He said the capital city should be reorganised. "I am working for the development of the city for the last 10 years. I want to work in future, too." Mintoo said.

Amir Hossain Khan said people are not happy with the present city that is sinking in severe problems. People want change, which had not happened in the past due to politicisation of everything.

He urged the politicians to leave Dhaka city to businessmen for making it liveable. Businessmen in the past have proved that they can do many things.

Terming the present time suitable to elect a mayor from business community he said, "Let's work together to elect Mintoo as city Mayor."