The Chattogram district administration will begin a district-wide rooftop cleaning campaign on 25 July, requiring government offices and residential buildings at district and upazila levels to participate as part of an effort to make the port city cleaner and more liveable.
Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian announced the programme at the monthly meeting of the District Development Coordination Committee at the Chattogram Circuit House, warning that officials could lose government housing allocations if poorly maintained rooftop gardens cause leakage or inconvenience to other residents, said in a press release.
The campaign will begin on the rooftops of government offices and residential complexes across the district.
“The campaign will begin from our own offices and residences. We cannot expect to build a clean and liveable city unless we first ensure cleanliness where we work and live,” Zahidul Islam said.
He instructed officials to treat the clean-up as a collective and festive initiative, ensuring the participation of all government offices at both district and upazila levels, including offices headed by Upazila Nirbahi Officers.
“We want the whole country to see that Chattogram has embraced the government’s initiative and set an example of cleanliness and civic responsibility,” he said.
Participating offices must submit photographs and videos showing rooftops before and after the cleaning drive.
The district administration will evaluate the submissions and recognise the best-performing offices at the next meeting of the District Development Coordination Committee.
The Deputy Commissioner also warned officials against neglecting rooftop gardens at government residential buildings.
He described rooftop gardening as a positive initiative but said inadequate maintenance had caused water leakage and other problems for people living on lower floors.
“If rooftop gardens are not properly maintained and they cause hardship to others, action will be taken. If necessary, government housing allocations will be cancelled,” he said.
Zahidul Islam said the programme formed part of the government’s wider effort to build a cleaner, safer and more liveable Bangladesh.
Public spaces, government offices and residential buildings must be kept clean through sustained awareness and responsible management, he added.
Heads of district-level government departments and all Upazila Nirbahi Officers attended the meeting.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Sharif Uddin conducted the proceedings.
