To prevent fatalities caused by people falling into unprotected canals, drains, and sewers during rain or tidal surges, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain has instructed the concerned departments to submit a list of such risky locations by Thursday.

The directive came during a special meeting with the engineering and cleaning departments, following a recent tragic incident in Chattogram.

"None of us can avoid responsibility for this unfortunate event. As a citizen of the city and as the mayor, I express my deep sorrow. We must work to ensure such incidents do not happen again," he said.

Field-level engineers and zonal heads of the cleaning department have been instructed to report by Thursday on the locations within their respective wards where manhole covers are missing, slabs are open, or canals and drains are left exposed. Based on this report, swift action will be taken, he said.

The mayor mentioned that, as an immediate precaution, risky canals and drains are being cordoned off with bamboo fencing. Permanent enclosures will be built afterward.

He added, "We demolished the CCC market in Bahaddarhat to reduce waterlogging, even though it generated around Tk 1.2 to 1.4 million in annual revenue. Alleviating public suffering is our top priority."

Addressing the residents of Chattogram, the mayor said, "We do not want any more mothers to lose their children. We are committed to making this city safe, clean, healthy, and livable. Everyone must take responsibility. If anyone finds an open manhole or an unprotected drain, they can inform me or the concerned authorities directly."

The meeting also decided to assign officials the task of collecting information from citizens about such hazardous canals, drains, and manholes.

The meeting, held at Nagar Bhaban yesterday, was attended by CCC Secretary Mohammad Ashraful Amin, Chief Engineer Anisur Rahman, Deputy Chief Cleaning Officer Pranab Kumar Sharma, and other senior officials.

On April 19, body of a six-month-old baby was recovered from Chattogram's Chaktai canal, almost 14 hours after the child went missing when a battery-run rickshaw fell into an open drain amid strong water flow in the port city's Kapasgola area.