Minister Orders Implementation of PM’s ‘Clean City, Green City’ Plan

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan has advised authorities to adopt short-, medium- and long-term plans to improve Dhaka’s environment and stressed the need to raise public awareness about cleanliness through extensive media campaigns.

He made the remarks while chairing a review meeting on Monday at the conference room of the Local Government Division at the Secretariat. The meeting reviewed progress on demarcating and excavating canals, tree plantation, beautification, waste removal and installation of waste bins in Dhaka North and South city corporations to address waterlogging.

State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam was also present at the meeting.

The minister said garbage left on roads during the day not only damages the city’s appearance but also creates an unpleasant smell. He therefore instructed authorities to seriously consider conducting waste collection at night.

“Simply removing waste will not be enough to ensure a clean city,” he said, stressing the need to raise public awareness and encourage residents to dispose of waste at designated locations.

He also emphasized regular awareness campaigns through the media.

Suggesting the planting of perennial flowering plants along both sides of roads to beautify and green the capital, Dr Moin Khan said Dhaka should be developed as not only a clean city but also an aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly one.

The local government minister instructed all relevant agencies to work in a coordinated manner to quickly implement the Prime Minister’s ‘Clean City, Green City’ vision.

He also stressed stronger coordination among city corporations and other relevant agencies in addressing waterlogging, restoring canals, expanding greenery, maintaining cleanliness, beautifying the city and improving traffic management.

The meeting reviewed the overall progress of ongoing development and cleanliness initiatives in Dhaka.

Officials said demarcation of 29 canals under Dhaka North City Corporation has progressed significantly, while work to demarcate canals under Dhaka South City Corporation is also ongoing.

Beautification and greening activities are continuing in both city corporations. Officials also said fireflies have already been spotted at night in Dhaka’s Miyawaki Urban Forest, describing it as an example of positive environmental change in the capital.

State Minister Mir Shahe Alam praised the ongoing initiatives and called for accelerating their implementation.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s direct monitoring of the issue, he instructed officials to present practical solutions, comparative pictures showing conditions before and after implementation, and future plans.

He said progress reports and future plans would later be presented to the Prime Minister. Therefore, officials must formulate effective and sustainable plans based on realities on the ground.

Senior officials from both city corporations and the Local Government Ministry attended the meeting.