Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has issued a clarion call to the nation to transform Bangladesh into a garbage-free country, urging citizens to adopt a collective responsibility for cleanliness to ensure a healthy environment for future generations.
In a video message shared on his verified Facebook page on Monday morning, the prime minister highlighted the alarming rise in littering, including plastic bottles, chip packets, and used tissues, across Dhaka, as well as in districts, upazilas, and villages, compared to three or four decades ago.
Emphasising the impact on public life, Tarique noted that most of the population, who travel on foot or by bus, suffer most from the stench and physical hurdles of accumulated waste.
He suggested that the environment could be preserved if citizens conscientiously disposed of refuse in designated areas for proper destruction.
The prime minister drew an analogy to personal residences, asking citizens if they would tolerate clutter and waste within their own homes. Invoking poetic descriptions of a “green and lush” world, he questioned why the national environment could not be maintained with similar pride.
Recounting observations from his recent tours across the country, Tarique described seeing piles of garbage in and around ponds that were once popular social hubs for families.
He pointed out that while sanitation workers do their part, public spaces often fail to remain clean once people pass through.
“If every one of us becomes conscious from today and disposes of our waste in an organised manner at designated spots, we will gradually be able to make Bangladesh garbage-free,” the prime minister said.
Closing his message, he emphasised that as the country belongs to everyone, significant progress in nation-building can only be achieved through united action.
He requested the full cooperation of the public to achieve this shared vision of a beautiful and healthy Bangladesh.
