Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will coordinate their activities with volunteer organisation BD Clean to improve cleanliness and greenery in the capital.
Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mir Shah-e Alam said an initiative would be taken to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two city corporations and BD Clean.
He made the remarks at a discussion on urban cleanliness and greening in Dhaka with BD Clean at the Local Government Division conference room at the Secretariat on Thursday.
The minister said the move aims to make BD Clean’s volunteer activities more institutional and sustainable.
He said the two city corporations would provide necessary logistical support to the organisation and supply saplings for tree plantation programmes.
“Building a clean city requires active participation from citizens alongside government efforts,” Mir Shah-e Alam said.
He said careless dumping of waste is filling up drains, canals and water bodies, contributing to waterlogging in the capital.
The minister stressed the need to turn cleanliness campaigns into a social movement to address the problem.
He called for involving local residents in area-based cleanliness programmes and suggested recording activities and promoting them on social media to raise public awareness.
The minister also directed that a two-member research team led by Professor Dr Shakila Nargis Khan, chairman of the Department of Microbiology at Dhaka University, be involved with the Dhaka Mosquito Control Office to strengthen efforts to prevent dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
A press release said a 12-member delegation from BD Clean attended the meeting. The organisation’s Chief Coordinator Champa Akter highlighted its activities and sought government support to expand its programmes.
