July 15, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SYLHET, BANGLADESH – Today, Democracy International (DI) organized a town hall meeting with the mayoral candidates of Bangladesh Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on “Citizen Priorities in Sylhet City Corporation” at a hotel in Sylhet. The town hall engaged two major mayoral candidates, Mr. Bodor Uddin Kamran of Bangladesh Awami League and Mr. Ariful Haque Chowdhury of BNP, in a dialogue with citizens of Sylhet City to discuss the most significant issues of the people of Sylhet City.

Citizens’ representatives and local journalists present at the event placed their recommendations on five major community issues: 1. Infrastructure including waste disposal management, walkways, drinking water for all, extended graveyards, appropriate number of primary schools and healthcare centers, etc. 2. Resolving water logging problem of the city. 3. Reducing traffic congestion in the city. 4. Developing recreational facilities for citizens of all ages. 5. Improving security for the citizens, including curbing mugging and trade of illicit drugs.

Both the mayoral candidates acknowledged the issues and described their previous successes and future plans in resolving community issues of Sylhet. The candidates also pledged for a peaceful election and coexistence in harmony.

This program was organized under Shantite Bijoy (Win With Peace) campaign under the Strengthening Political Landscape (SPL) project, jointly funded by USAID and UKAID and implemented by DI.

For more information contact: Sudipta Chowdhury, Regional Manager
schowdhury@DemocracyInternational.com +880.01716207442

Democracy International supports active citizens, responsive governments, and engaged civil society and political organizations to achieve a more peaceful, democratic world. By developing and using new knowledge, tools, and approaches, we change people’s lives and improve development assistance in fundamental ways.