Extortion in name of 'city tolls' must stop

Time Digital Report: Former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sayeed Khokon criticised the incumbent mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh today without directly mentioning his name.

Speaking at a press meet, Khokon said extortion in the name of "city tolls" at Dhaka entrances is driving up the prices of essential commodities.

He also accused the "current authorities" of DSCC of lying about the number of dengue patients.

"The current authorities claimed that there were at least 41,000 fewer dengue patients in 2023 than in 2019. I'm not naming anyone out of politeness. But when such propaganda is spread, it hurts me," Khokon said.

"The current mayor [of DSCC] is an Awami League-nominated mayor... I am an AL central committee member and an AL-nominated MP. I can't make a public statement. I have some limitations. Because I have a responsibility to my party," he added.

He urged the city authorities to prioritise the protection of citizens from dengue without engaging in ill-politics.

Mentioning that he worked tirelessly to curb the spread of dengue, Khokon said, "Dengue went out of control in 2019. Still, I worked tirelessly day and night to protect the city dwellers. I worked for the city even when I was sick. I didn't leave the country like someone else."

Mentionable, in an interview with The Daily Star after the completion of four years as mayor, DSCC Mayor Sheikh Taposh said, "Irregularities became normal at the DSCC. The obligation to follow due process, laws, and rules was absent here. Many were not discharging their responsibilities. I made changes to improve the situation.

"Now, I can claim that DSCC is the most corruption-free organisation among all the government institutions and organisations. We see the reflection of it in our revenue collection drive."

Regarding his statement, Khokon said, "When I was in charge, I transformed DSCC into a public welfare organisation. I worked for the welfare of the people without raising taxes, just like my father Mohammad Hanif."

He said maybe the revenue collection has been less because he did not want to burden the city dwellers.

"The 'current authorities' are collecting money for funerals at cemeteries and crematoriums, which I gave for free. I saw DSCC not as a business organisation," Khokon added.

Without commenting on corruption, he said, "I have already said, I cannot give any statement publicly."

When questioned about his potential participation in the upcoming DSCC election, he said it depends on the prime minister's decision.