Sylhet Bureau

Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) two-term mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury's term of office ends on November 7. Newly elected mayor Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury will take office on November 8.

Earlier, SCC give farewell to Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury through 'Nagarik Sambardhana'. This is the first time that a mayor of Sylhet City Corporation was given farewell reception.

The reception was organized at Sarada Hall premises in the city on Friday afternoon.

Sylhet-1 Constituency Member of Parliament and Minister of Foreign Affairs D.AK Abdul Momen was the chief guest.

He said in his speech, Mayor Arif has made maximum use of the government allocation for the development of Sylhet City Corporation. Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury was always striving for the development of the city during his two terms as mayor.

Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury took the responsibility of all the failures of the city's development and civic services in two consecutive terms in the ceremony and said in the civic reception, I have tried to work with the tradition of religious and political harmony. I am dedicating to the people of Sylhet what has been achieved in the last ten years in making Sylhet a populous city.

He said, even if there is no mayor, I will always be active in the development of Sylhet. He assured to support the next council to continue the ongoing development of the city.

Councilor Shantanu Dutta Santu, convenor of Citizens' Reception Committee Presided over the programme when SCC Panel Mayor-1 Councilor Mohammad Taufiq Baks gave welcome speech.

Sadar Uddin Chowdhury, freedom fighter Rafiqul Haque, prominent politician Vedanand Bhattacharya, former principal of Madan Mohan College Professor Ataur Rahman Pir, general secretary of Sylhet Diabetes Association Lokman Ahmad, constitutional expert Emad Ullah Shahidul Islam Shaheen spoke as special guests on the occasion.

President Ashok Purkayastha of Sylhet District Lawyers Association, Swami Chandranathananda Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Mission Sylhet, Father Deacon Nijhum Sangma in Sylhet Presbyterian Church, President of Proivet Hospital-Clinic Association Dr. Nasim Ahmad, Sylhet Press Club General Secretary Abdur Rashid Renu and Sylhet District Press Club General Secretary Shah Didar Alam Chowdhury Noble.

SCC councilor gave a welcome speech at the civic reception. Azadur Rahman Azad and Councilor Farhad Chowdhury.

Public Relations Officer Abdul Alim Shah read the certificate given to Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury on behalf of councillors, officials and employees of Sylhet City Corporation. The chief guest, Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen MP and SCC councilors handed over certificates, mementos and a symbolic key of the city building to Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury who received a public welcome. The chief guest of the program was awarded by the mayor councilors.

At the beginning of the program, Holy Quran was recited by Sylhet City Corporation Jame Masjid Imam Mufti Maulana Jaseem Uddin, Gita was read by Sisik Tax Assistant Tax Officer Jyotish Chakraborty.

The event was attended by prominent educators. Kabir Chowdhury, Mayor's wife Sama Haque Chowdhury, Councilor Abul Kalam Azad Layek, Councilor Sheikh Tofail Ahmad Sepul, Councilor Rezwan Ahmad, Councilor Saeed Md. Abdullah, Councilor Haji Md. Mukhlishur Rahman Kamran, Councilor. Sikandar Ali, Councilor Abdul Muhit Jabed, Councilor Rashed Ahmed, Councilor ABM Zillur Rahman, Councilor SM Shawkat Amin Tauhid, Councilor Md. Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury, Councilor Humayun Kabir Suhin, Councilor Md. Raihan Hossain, Councilor. Mazharul Islam Shakeel, Councilor. Rakib Khan, Councilor. Ruhel Ahmed, Councilor Delwar Hossain, Councilor Md. Zainal Abedin, Councilor Jahangir Alam, Councilor Hiron Mahmud Nipu, Councilor Altaf Hossain Sumon, Reserved Councilor Kulsuma Begum Popi, Reserved Councilor Ruhena Khanam Mukta, Reserved Councilor Shahana Begum Shanu, Reserved Councilor Shahanara Begum, Reserved Councilor Sharmin Akhtar Rumi, Reserved Councilor Chamirun Necha, reserved councilor Ayesha Khatun Koli, reserved councilor Sajeda Begum, reserved councilor Hajera Begum, reserved councilor Fatema Begum, reserved councilor Babli Akhtar, CSIC chief executive officer (acting) Fahima Yasmis, chief engineer Noor Azizur Rahman, chief revenue officer. Matiur Rahman Khan, Chief Property Officer Biswajit Dev, Chief Health Officer Dr. Md. Zahidul Islam, the leaders of various socio-cultural political parties of Sylhet and the officers and employees of various branches and departments of CSIC.

The fifth election of Sylhet City Corporation was held on July 21. Awami League candidate in the election. Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury was elected mayor by getting 1 lakh 19 thousand 991 votes. His closest rival Jatiya Party. Nazrul Islam (Babul) got 50 thousand 862 votes. BNP central leader Ariful Haque Chowdhury did not participate in the elections following the party instructions.