New Chittagong city mayor M Manzur Alam has said any irregularities in the city corporation in the past will be looked into for effective actions.

He said this in a brief press conference after moving into the mayor office on Tuesday.

He declared that resolving the water-logging problem of the port city is his major goal. "A separate standing committee will be formed in the first general meeting scheduled on July 26 to take effective steps to resolve water-logging."

Opposition BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has called on the government to increase budgetary allocation for development of Chittagong City Corporation, headed by a mayor her party backs.

Her call came hours after local government minister Syed Ashraful Islam promised maximum cooperation of the mayor and councillors for the development of the port city.

Main opposition BNP chief Khaleda Zia has been invited to the oath swearing programme of the newly elected Chittagong mayor M Manzur Alam, the Awami League leader general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said on Saturday.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will administer the oath of BNP-backed mayor-elect at her office at 10am on Sunday.

The port city of Chittagong has taken a festive mood with mayoral and ward councillor candidates in CCC election going full steam ahead with their campaigns for votes on June 17.

The candidates have been making all out efforts to woo voters with banners, posters and festoons bearing their respective election symbols.

Election commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain on Monday said they are embarrassed at the frequent visits of ministers to Chittagong ahead of the city corporation polls.

He said if they did not stop visiting Chittagong city at the request of the Election Commission, law-enforcement agencies would not allow them to enter the city anymore.

ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and M Manzur Alam will face off in an open debate on Tuesday.

The debate between the major contestants in the June 17 Chittagong City Corporation elections will be aired by the BBC Bengali Service in collaboration with the Election Commission.

Former mayor Mohiuddin is backed by ruling Awami League and its allies and Manzur has opposition BNP's support behind him.

The top election official has warned against anarchy during the upcoming Chittagong City Corporation polls on June 17.

Chief election commissione ATM Shamsul Huda said on Friday that any breach of law or breakdown of public order must not be tolerated.

Huda made the statement in a meeting with law-enforcing agencies and administration officials at the circuit house in the afternoon.

Eight candidates will be vying for the post of Chittagong mayor in the June 17 city corporation elections. The Chittagong district election office published the list of qualified candidates on Tuesday after withdrawal of candidature by some.

The candidates are ruling Awami League-backed ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, main opposition BNP-backed M Manzur Alam, Jatiya Party-backed Solaiman Alam Sheth and independent candidates Syed Sajjad Joha, Mohammad Ibrahim, Zane Alam, Mofazzal Hossain Bhuiyan and Rafiqul Alam.

Ten Islamist political parties including Jamaat-e-Islami have extended their support to M Manzur Alam, the opposition BNP-backed mayoral candidate for Chittagong City Corporation polls.

The declaration came form a press briefing attended by the 10 parties at the Chittagong Press Club auditorium on Monday.

Other than the BNP and Jamaat, the other eight parties are Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, Nezam-e-Islami Party, Muslim League, National People's Party, Islami Oikya Jote, Khelafat Majlish and Jatiya Party (Matin).

The Dhaka City Corporation's "overnight drive" against illegal hoardings in the capital came to a halt after just two hours on Thursday night.

Executive magistrate of the Dhaka City Corporation, Khalil Ahmed, said, "We've stopped the drive as the police left. We are in a precarious situation without their protection."

Acting CCC mayor Alhaj M Manzur Alam visited different puja mandaps of the district last night, says a press release.

He went to the mandaps of Pahartali, Doublemooring, Bandar and Patenga areas and exchanged wishes with the Hindu devotees and other visitors.

Suasa Community Organization, a social welfare establishment,  at South Charoti, Satkania undertook many activities  to help the local poor and orphans recently, says a press release.

These include among other things arranging discussions on significance of Ramadan, hosting iftar parties and distributing Eid dresses among local orphans and their family members.

The acting CCC Mayor Alhaj M Manzur Alam has greeted all countrymen including Chittagonians on the occasion of Holy Eid-ul-fitr, says a press release.

In a statement issued on the occasion he said, Eid is a religious festival of Muslim Ummah. It brings glad tidings to rich and poor alike.

Staff Reporter

Ten people were injured when transport workers and the police fought pitched battles at an inter-district bus station in the port city on Sunday, halting bus operations and stranding homebound people.

Discussion on World Al-Quds Day

Speakers at a discussion on World Al-Quds Day criticized the Jews of Israel for killing the Muslim children and women of Palestine, says a press release.

Al-Quds Committee Chittagong Chapter organized the discussion at city's Nasirabad Housing Society Area yesterday.

Holy Ramadan

The greater Faridpur Welfare Association, Chittagong Chapter held a discussion on holy Ramadan and Iftar party at Railway Officers Club, Pologround, Ctg yesterday, says a press release.

President of the association, Md. Belayet Hossain presided over the discussion where AKM Shahidul Hoq (BPM), DIG, Chittagong Range attended as Chief Guest.

Demand to pay unpaid salaries, arrears

Staff Reporter

Workers of Amin Jute Mills in Chittagong on Monday staged demonstrations and rallies at the mills premises to demand, among other things, unpaid salaries.

A meeting to call up the contributions of martyr Murdiul Alam will be held tomorrow at Engr. Abdul Khaleque Auditorium of Ctg Press Club, says a press release.

Tofael Ahmed, AL Presidium member and former minister will attend the function as Chief Guest.

Dr. Nim Chandra Boumic, General secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christan Oikkyo Parisad(BHBCOP) and president of Puja Udjapan Parisad yesterday met the members of the marginalized communities of Patiya upazila, says a press release.
Advocate Rana Das Gupta, Ln Sankar Sen Gupta of BHBCOP were also present at that time.

The 278th birth anniversary of saint Loknath Brammachari will be observed at Loknath Dham, Rajapukur Lane, Anderkilla, on September 4-5, says a press release.