Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Abdus Salam on Saturday alleged that a former adviser to the interim government had set Dhaka back “18 years in just 18 months.”
“One of Bangladesh’s loudest voices on environmental issues was an adviser in the last interim government. Yet he ruined the environment and pushed Dhaka city back by 18 years in just 18 months,” he said.
He made the remarks while addressing a discussion titled “Integrated Environmental Management: Forests, Environment, Rivers and Urbanisation”, organised by BNP at the Abdus Salam Hall of the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka. State Minister for Forests, Environment and Climate Affairs Sheikh Faridul Islam attended as a special guest.
Speaking as chief guest, Abdus Salam said implementing environmental and urban management plans is far more challenging than making statements.
“Talking is easy; implementation is difficult. But our leader, the honourable Prime Minister, does not see anything as difficult. She tries to implement everything practically and has already taken many initiatives,” he said.
He blamed the interim government for worsening traffic congestion and the uncontrolled expansion of street hawkers in the capital.
“Today’s traffic jams and severe hawker congestion are creations of their tenure,” he added.
The DSCC administrator stressed the need to follow expert recommendations to protect Bangladesh from future environmental disasters.
“If we fail to act on expert advice, tougher times lie ahead,” he warned. He also urged all political parties and citizens to unite on environmental and urban management issues.
Addressing pollution in Dhaka, Salam acknowledged that city corporations bear responsibility but said ordinary citizens are also accountable.
“If citizens were more aware of their responsibilities, many of these problems could have been reduced,” he said.
Highlighting looming dengue and chikungunya risks ahead of the monsoon, Salam said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had repeatedly instructed authorities to take preventive measures.
He said DSCC had launched a 15-day survey programme to identify mosquito breeding hotspots across the city.
Describing a recent inspection, Salam said he personally found mosquito larvae growing in stagnant rainwater inside broken television casings and utensils at a veterinary hospital near Nagar Bhaban.
“I warned the hospital director that if the larvae remained for two more days, they would turn into mosquitoes and spread dengue. Later, people will blame the city corporation for not spraying medicine, while they themselves are maintaining mosquito factories,” he said.
He stressed that public awareness is key to transforming Dhaka.
“If people are not made aware, even 25 years will not bring change,” he said, adding that Dhaka could be transformed within two years if citizens cooperate.
Criticising unplanned urbanisation, Salam said the city was originally designed for only a few lakh residents during the Pakistan era but now accommodates nearly two crore people.
“Residential areas like Wari, Basabo and Dhanmondi have all turned commercial,” he said.
He also blamed land grabbers and road transport mafias for damaging waterways and rail connectivity, increasing pressure on roads and worsening environmental conditions.
“If we could reduce pressure on roads by improving river and rail transport, the environmental situation would improve significantly,” he said.
Salam said public participation is essential to keeping Dhaka clean and liveable.
“Fifty per cent responsibility belongs to the city corporation and the other 50 per cent belongs to citizens,” he added.
BNP Environment and Forest Affairs Secretary Mohammad Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul chaired the programme. Professor Dr Mahmudul Islam presented the keynote paper, while researchers, urban planners and forestry experts also attended.
