The current administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton, is not just an administrative officer, he is a fighting leader who emerged from the street fight. He was a fearless soldier on the field in the long 17-year anti-misrule movement. This strong personality who emerged from the grassroots is both a skilled organizer and a visionary administrator.
Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton is the former acting general secretary of the central executive committee of Bangladesh Nationalist Youth Party and played an important role as the vice-president of the central committee before taking charge as the administrator. Before that, he gave a tough test of leadership on the street as the convener of Dhaka Metropolitan North Youth Party and the general secretary of Greater Mirpur Chhatra Dal. In the recently concluded 13th National Parliament election, he received 63,517 votes as the BNP’s nominated candidate for Dhaka-15 constituency, which is a reflection of the great trust of the people in him in the history of Mirpur. Although the results went against him by a small margin against a heavyweight candidate, that defeat did not deter him from public service.
Since taking charge as the administrator, he has been working tirelessly to transform DNCC into a modern, corruption-free and service-oriented institution. Especially, the bold steps he has taken to eliminate the opacity related to funds, free the encroachment of footpaths and deal with the waterlogging of the upcoming monsoon are now the ‘talk of the town’. Today, sitting at the office of the North City Corporation, this popular leader faced the Editor-in-Chief of ‘Noto Post’ M R Jannat Swapan about his future work plan and development ideas.
M R Jannat Swapon: What has been your experience during your first few weeks since taking over as the Administrator of DNCC (Dhaka North City Corporation)? What do you find to be the most challenging aspect?
DNCC Administrator: I joined on February 25th. The feeling on my first day at the office was quite unique. However, because of the sheer volume of work since joining, I haven’t really had the time to fully process that feeling. Beyond official desk work, I have to personally visit and inspect the ongoing projects across different zones of the City Corporation. This is a position of honor and an opportunity to work in a massively responsible role; I consider it a great privilege.
M R Jannat Swapon: The monsoon season is approaching. Do you have any specific “Master Plan” or immediate measures to eliminate the long-standing waterlogging issue in Dhaka North?
DNCC Administrator: We are prioritizing and actively working on waste management, mosquitoes, and waterlogging in Dhaka city. Keeping the upcoming monsoon in mind, I have already instructed those in charge of the drainage system and initiated a “Crash Program” after consecutive meetings. There are 29 canals in Dhaka North, and the cleaning process is underway in phases. Additionally, some canal mouths—where water flows into larger canals—were completely blocked; excavation work is currently going on there.
However, there is one issue I have repeatedly urged residents to be mindful of. We clean the canals, but within a few days, we see plastic or kitchen waste dumped directly back into them. If everyone shows a little awareness, our job becomes much easier.
M R Jannat Swapon: Have you set a specific deadline to fully digitalize DNCC’s taxation system and trade license process?
DNCC Administrator: Look, the City Corporation is an autonomous institution that runs on taxes. After taking charge, I instructed the relevant officials to streamline the taxation system to make it more user-friendly and increase revenue. We are holding briefing meetings with officials from the 10 zones every week. As a result, tax collection has already increased compared to before.
As for trade licenses, the process is already entirely online. There might be a misunderstanding here—many people believe they need to print the online document and bring it to the City Corporation for a physical signature. That is not the case. The printed copy with the QR code, generated after paying the specific fee online, is the approved certificate itself. We are also planning to simplify civic services regarding birth and death certificates.
M R Jannat Swapon: As the Administrator of DNCC, what are your priorities in implementing the vision of building a “New Bangladesh,” as called for by statesman Tarique Rahman?
DNCC Administrator: First of all, he has pledged to present the public with a modern, livable, green, and odor-free city. I am working on those very aspects. Mosquito eradication and waste management have improved significantly compared to the past. Speaking of waterlogging—previously, Mirpur 10 would flood even after a little rain, but that hasn’t happened over the last few days because our QRT (Quick Response Team) is always on standby. Furthermore, right after the monsoon, we will launch a large-scale tree plantation campaign. The selection of spots in each zone is currently underway.
M R Jannat Swapon: If the proposed Hemayetpur Inter-District Bus Terminal project is implemented, how much will it reduce traffic congestion in Mirpur and Gabtoli?
DNCC Administrator: If we can execute the Hemayetpur Bus Terminal, inter-district night coaches coming from various districts will no longer need to enter as far as Gabtoli. When long-distance buses stop coming to Gabtoli, traffic congestion in that area will naturally ease significantly. The Gabtoli terminal will then primarily be used for city services.
M R Jannat Swapon: You have announced plans to evict illegal occupants from the footpaths from Mirpur-10 to Mirpur-1. However, there is a massive number of street vendors (hawkers) there. What is your plan regarding eviction versus rehabilitation?
DNCC Administrator: Look, I am a child of this neighborhood. Out of empathy, I personally inspected the footpaths and explained the situation to the hawkers, telling them: “Because you have been doing business here for a long time, the public faces immense suffering.” Recently, I held a meeting with about 1,500 hawkers at the Mukul Fauj ground. I asked them directly—if alternative arrangements were made for them elsewhere, would they vacate the footpaths? They unanimously agreed.
To ensure their businesses are not harmed, I have formed a committee to arrange a spot in a nearby open field or a designated area. This committee will include hawker representatives, local community leaders, police administration, and DNCC representatives. We want a sustainable solution. However, they have pledged that the footpaths cannot be used under any circumstances. If anyone still tries to occupy them illegally after this, we will take legal action.
M R Jannat Swapon: There has been some confusion regarding DNCC’s funds. The former administrator claimed there was 1,260 crore BDT available. What is your clear stance on this?
DNCC Administrator: I have already protested against this misleading statement. The 1,260 crore BDT mentioned by the former administrator is not the general fund. When I joined on the 25th, I found only 25 crore BDT in the “General Fund”—the fund used to pay salaries, allowances, and development project bills. The former administrator likely combined DNCC’s FDRs (Fixed Deposits), the education sector funds, and other reserved funds to make that statement. But for daily operational expenses, the amount in the general fund was just 25 crore BDT.
M R Jannat Swapon: Do you have any new plans for mosquito control and dengue prevention?
DNCC Administrator: We are actively working on mosquito eradication. Right after the Eid holidays, we simultaneously conducted larviciding in 534 schools so that students wouldn’t fall sick. Mosquitoes cannot be eradicated by medicine alone; it is vital to keep drains and waste clean. For this, our QRT is working across 10 zones. Previously, cleaners only worked from dawn until 11:00 AM. Now, we have introduced shift changes, instructing them to clean the main roads from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. I will personally monitor this.
M R Jannat Swapon: How strict are you about ensuring transparency and accountability within DNCC?
DNCC Administrator: Immediately after joining, I held exchange meetings with all departments. My message was crystal clear—what happened in the past does not matter, but from now on, no irregularities or corruption will be tolerated. I will not engage in corruption myself, and I will not allow anyone else to do so.
M R Jannat Swapon: During the tenure of the previous government, you faced numerous lawsuits and attacks. Could you briefly share your memories of those harrowing days?
DNCC Administrator: For the past 17 years, we fought on the streets to secure people’s rights. In this struggle, I saw many colleagues to my left and right disappear; many were shot and permanently crippled. After August 5th, we are living in a new Bangladesh. We do not want an environment to ever regularize in the future where citizens are deprived of their democratic rights.
Honorable Tarique Rahman envisions a discrimination-free, democratic, and economically reformed New Bangladesh. Before the election, he pledged to support underprivileged families through Family Cards; he started implementing that pledge within just 22 days. We want to follow such leadership and present Dhaka North as a modern city.
M R Jannat Swapon: Can the people of Mirpur and the party expect you as a mayoral candidate in the upcoming City Corporation elections?
DNCC Administrator: I am a son of Mirpur; I was born and raised politically right here. So, it is only natural that the local residents would expect me to run for mayor. However, my greatest place of trust is the party and our party chief, Mr. Tarique Rahman. Whomever he nominates for Dhaka North, that decision will be final. As a potential mayoral candidate, I may have my own aspirations, but the party’s decision will ultimately be absolute.
M R Jannat Swapon: Do you have a message for the city residents and our readers?
DNCC Administrator: To make Dhaka modern, the citizens must also be conscious. You pay taxes, and receiving services is your right. If you see any irregularity or problem anywhere, let us know, and I will take immediate action. For instance, the other day while I was out inspecting the streets, I saw on social media that a drainage project was using substandard materials. I took action immediately. Your awareness will drive me to work even harder.
Conclusion:Throughout this extensive conversation, the words of Md. Shafiul Islam Khan Milton reflected not just the official language of an administrator, but the resonance of a compassionate heart deeply committed to its citizens. Having navigated the long and rugged path of politics, he has now taken the helm of the city’s administration. His voice carried an unyielding determination to build a New Bangladesh and a dream of constructing a discrimination-free society. On one hand, he spoke with uncompromising strictness about freeing footpaths from illegal occupation to ease the movement of regular citizens; on the other hand, the empathy he demonstrated toward the lives and livelihoods of the hawkers sets a rare example. From the Hemayetpur bus terminal project to the renovation of Mirpur’s alleyways—his vigilant focus across all sectors proves that he is not merely an administrator confined to files, but a man of action who believes in ground-level realities. His transition from a fighting soldier of politics to an efficient administrator has ignited a new light of hope in the hearts of Dhaka North’s citizens. Under his capable leadership, residents from all walks of life now share the expectation that the Dhaka North City Corporation will truly transform into a livable, green, and clean city. On behalf of Bangladesh Global, we wish him continuous success in this noble journey of public service.
