Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan announced on Monday that 29 canals under the city corporation’s jurisdiction, including the Muslim Bazar canal, will be cleared of illegal occupation following the directives of the prime minister.
DNCC informed this in a press release on Monday.
The administrator made the declaration while inaugurating a tree-planting programme at the Mirpur-10 Adarsha High School field.
Safiqul said the DNCC is set to plant 500,000 trees in line with the prime minister’s announcement, a mission that officially commenced with the event.
Addressing the environmental challenges facing the capital, the administrator said Dhaka’s canals have been filled with waste and rubbish over the past 17 years, allowing them to fall into the hands of illegal encroachers.
He emphasised that protecting Dhaka would be impossible without the recovery of these waterways. “To save the city dwellers and ensure urban development, these canals must be freed from occupation,” he added.
He further added that the 29 canals would be reclaimed with public support regardless of any obstacles.
Safiqul also appealed to residents to take up rooftop gardening to help create a pollution-free and green Dhaka.
However, he issued a cautionary note regarding Dengue, advising citizens to ensure that stagnant water does not collect in pots or containers within their gardens.
He urged the public to refrain from littering and to cooperate with DNCC cleaning staff to help realise the prime minister’s vision of a “Clean Dhaka, Green Dhaka.”
Safiqul described the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as a “government of the people,” elected by the public and dedicated to their welfare.
Following the inauguration, a rally was held led by the administrator, which saw the participation of local leaders and students from the school.
