Though one decade has already elapsed by this time seeing Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) polls being held three times, including the last one on January 27, construction work of the new Nagar Bhaban (City Building) could not be completed as yet.
Consequently, the newly-elected mayor and other officials have to do their official duty at the temporary office of the CCC in Tiger Pass area of the port city amid some inconveniences.
Former mayor of CCC ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury had laid the foundation stone of the new City Building in 2011. But as he was not elected mayor in the polls next time his successor M Manjur Alam did not take any attempt to implement his 'dream project'.
Later, during the tenure of mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, the CCC in its general meeting took a decision to complete the construction work of the new Nagar Bhaban at cost of Tk 2022.6 million (Tk 202 crores and 26 lakhs).
The said meeting was the 44th general meeting of CCC held on March 29, 2019.
But the construction work of the infrastructure could not see any further progress for running into a snag with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic last year.
CCC officials said construction work of the City Building is a mega project which was stopped for coronavirus outbreak and is yet to start again.
"We hope that once construction work of the City Building is completed, city dwellers could avail services in much higher degrees," said an official preferring anonymity.
Khorshed Alam Sujan, the immediate past administrator of CCC, said, "I discharged my duty as administrator for the last six months. I could not take any step for completion of the new City Building for limitation of time. I hope that newly elected mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury will take appropriate step in this regard."
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, who was elected mayor in the last CCC polls, said, "It's unfortunate that more than one decade has already gone by since the foundation stone for the new City Building was laid but the CCC could not yet complete the construction work of the building.
"I'll work to complete the building's construction without any further delay considering it as a dream of our leader ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury. I will start work as soon as possible for the new City Building just after taking over the charge."
Sources said, the 23-storey new Nagar Bhaban building will be constructed on 33,955 sft land at a cost of Tk 2022.6 million (Tk 202 crores and 26 lakh).
The new Nagar Bhaban will get uninterrupted power supply and all types of modern facilities.
nazim07@yahoo.com