“I request the city dwellers to follow health rules. The city corporation is always by your side. With mutual cooperation, we’ll be able to return to our normal life in this beautiful city,” he said at an online video conference from his Gulshan Nagar Bhaban office in the afternoon.

Atiqul took over as mayor around 12:15pm. DNCC Panel Mayor Md Jamal Mostafa, Chief Executive Officer Md Abdul Hai, Secretary Rabindra Shri Barua and heads of various department of the corporation were present on the occasion.

At the online video conference, Atiqul said he has devoted himself to the service of the country and its people as well as the city of Dhaka. He said he did a lot of work in the last nine months of his past tenure.

“Some works are ongoing. I’m determined to complete the unfinished works and implement my election manifesto. I’ll work to ensure all your civic benefits by making the DNCC better organised,” he said.

Atiqul said he believes Bangladesh can get rid of coronavirus pandemic with concerted efforts. “There’s no alternative to working together to build a healthy, vibrant and modern Dhaka and take Bangladesh forward. I promise to continue working with the people to ensure all civic amenities of city dwellers and to implement my election manifesto,” he said.

About various initiatives taken by the DNCC to prevent coronavirus outbreak, Atiqul said like other major cities in the world, they have taken various steps.

With the permission of the Directorate General of Health Services, the DNCC and BRAC are jointly going to set up Coronavirus Sample Collection Booth at eight places in the city within this week to make coronavirus testing easier and more accessible. There are also plans to set up a Covid-19 testing lab at the initiative of DNCC, he said.

Meanwhile, Mohakhali DNCC Market has been temporarily handed over to the DGHS for construction of Corona Hospital and Isolation Centre. Arrangements have also been made to collect samples at DNCC's Mohakhali Community Centre for journalists and their families working in the field during the coronavirus disaster, the DNCC mayor added.

He said the low-income people have been hit hard by the pandemic and added that ward councillors and DNCC officials have distributed relief items among about 300,000 people with the help of Prime Minister's Relief Fund. The distribution is continuing, the mayor said.

Also read: Bangladesh’s health sector ‘braces for disaster’ for dengue & coronavirus

Apart from that, Atiqul said he delivered food items to 50,000 families with the help of his family, friends and well-wishers through "Sabai Mile Sobar Dhaka" and various social organisations. “This work will continue,” he said.

About DNCC’s initiative to prevent possible dengue and chikungunya outbreak, the Mayor said the outbreaks occur during the monsoon.

Also read: Expert fear even worse dengue outbreak this time

“We’ve taken the highest precautionary measures to prevent dengue and chikungunya from taking a terrible form like other years. Our mosquito eradication activities have been continuing,” he said.

“To curb the spread of coronavirus, follow the rules of health. I urge you to clean the areas around your home to prevent dengue and chikungunya. This will help us tackle coronavirus as well as dengue,” the DNCC Mayor said.

Also read: Spiraling Coronavirus: Bangladesh reports 1,162 new cases, 19 deaths