Mohammad Abdus Salam passed his last working day on Sunday after serving 10 years 8 months 9 days as the administrator and chairman of Chattogram Zila Parishad. The outgoing administrator exchanged views with journalists on the occasion of the last working day.
During the exchange of views, Abdus Salam said, I am very grateful to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina because she gave me this responsibility. At the same time, I got the support of the minister and the officials at all levels of the ministry. Chattogram Zila Parishad was dilapidated at the time of taking charge. I made this dilapidated council self-supporting step by step. The budget was Tk 26 crore when he took over in 2008; Currently it has increased to Tk 348 crores. These budgets are being implemented with the financing of Chattogram Zila Parishad's own income-generating projects.
MA Salam said, during the tenure of two-time administrator and once-elected chairman, 15 upazilas, including Chattogram city, have been developed worth about one thousand crore rupees. Notable projects implemented include- 3 thousand 570 road development, 96 drains, 61 culverts, 583 guidewalls/returning walls, 1643 educational institutions development, 2506 mosques development, 755 temples, Bihars and ashrams development, 717 cemeteries and crematories development, 152 Eidgahs development, Construction of Shaheed Minar, Construction of 89 Ghatlas, Construction of 692 Tube Wells, Construction of 42 Passenger Canopies, 3 Dairy Farms, 4 Poultry Farms, 4 Auditorium cum Multipurpose, 11 Public Libraries, 36 Monuments, 13 Super Markets, 29 Public Toilets, 14 Dak Bungalows, 18 Market, 5 training centers, development of 10 ferry wharves, development of 3 children's parks and Tk 2 crores grant to 3450 destitute, sick people. Houses have been constructed and handed over to 50 homeless families on the occasion of Mujib Year. Ten more are under construction.
Also, the projects under implementation include eight-storied Zila Parishad own office-cum-commercial building at a cost of Tk 81 crore, 1,000-seat auditorium at Patiya at a cost of Tk 20 crore, construction of Swandeep Jetty at a cost of Tk 15.5 crore, Sheikh Kamal Memorial Complex at Noapara in Raujan at a cost of Tk 7 crore, Tk 5.5 Construction of Dakbungalow at Anwara, Rangunia and Patiya at a cost of Tk 2 crores, Auditorium cum Community Center at Mirsharai at a cost of Tk 2 crores, Auditorium at Raojan at a cost of Tk 2 crores. 10 acres of Zila Parishad's own land has been freed from illegal occupants.
He said, I have fulfilled the responsibility assigned to me by the Prime Minister as a deposit of the people. The responsibility that the Prime Minister will give in the future; I will observe it faithfully. I want to do public service forever.
Chattogram Zila Parishad Chief Executive Officer (Deputy Secretary) Shabbir Iqbal moderated the meeting. Zilla Parishad Executive Officer Md. Didarul Alam, Engineer Monirul Islam were present at the time.
Its mentioned that Mohammad Abdul Salam handed over the responsibility to Shabbir Iqbal, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chattogram Zila Parishad yesterday afternoon, as the last 6 months of his tenure as the administrator of Chattogram Zila Parishad were completed. Shabbir Iqbal will perform the interim routine duties of the Zila Parishad until ATM Pearul Islam, who was elected as chairman in the Chattogram Zila Parishad election on October 17, takes oath.
