Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday urged all citizens to play a responsible role from their respective positions to leave behind pollution-free rivers and a clean, habitable environment for future generations.
The prime minister made the call while presiding over a review meeting concerning the prevention of pollution in rivers surrounding the capital, waste removal, preservation and management, ensuring navigability, and the development of the circular waterway.
The meeting was held on Sunday morning at the Secretariat.
During the meeting, a comprehensive review was conducted on activities aimed at controlling pollution, removing waste, and ensuring navigability and the normal flow of water in the Buriganga, Turag, Dhaleshwari, Balu, and Shitalakshya rivers, alongside their adjacent canals and drains, as well as the development of the existing circular waterway around Dhaka.
The prime minister directed the authorities to take effective initiatives to quickly implement the plans adopted so far.
He placed special emphasis on advancing these activities by ensuring proper co-ordination among the relevant ministries, divisions, and organisations.
“We must try to leave behind pollution-free rivers and a habitable environment not only for ourselves but also for the next generation,” the prime minister said. “For this, we should not just wait for government instructions but work from a sense of personal responsibility.”
The high-level review meeting was attended by Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan; Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo; Industry and Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir; Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee; and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam.
Also present at the meeting were State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam; State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki; State Minister for Shipping Razib Ahsan; and State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam.
The session was also attended by Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Saimum Parvez. Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, and Commander of Dhaka Naval Area of the Bangladesh Navy Rear Admiral Abdullah-Al-Maksus. Secretaries of the relevant ministries and divisions, the administrators of Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Gazipur City Corporations, and other high-ranking officials were also in attendance.
