PM stresses coordinated efforts for cleaner Dhaka

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday reviewed ongoing cleanliness initiatives in the capital, stressing coordinated efforts by relevant agencies to improve waste management, keep roads and public spaces clean and make Dhaka a healthier, more liveable city.

He stressed the need for concerted action while chairing a meeting on the progress of cleanli-ness activities in Dhaka at his office in the Tejgaon area.

The meeting reviewed the work of committees formed to oversee cleanliness operations in the capital, initiatives already undertaken and measures to improve the city's waste management system.

After the meeting, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam briefed the media on the discussions and decisions at Korobi Hall of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

Shahe Alam said the government planned to involve around 39,000 retired government officials and employees living in Dhaka in the Clean Dhaka, Green Dhaka initiative, drawing on their ex-perience and knowledge to improve the city's living conditions.

He said 20 area-based committees had been formed around the regional offices of the two city corporations to oversee cleanliness activities and monitor progress. The committees formally began work on 27 October.

So far, they have inspected 248 educational institutions, 129 hospitals and clinics, 112 govern-ment residential quarters, 152 markets and shopping complexes, and 188 roads, parks, foot-paths and other public spaces, he added.

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The retired officials would work at neighbourhood level alongside young volunteers and gov-ernment officials to raise awareness about dengue prevention, proper waste disposal, keeping footpaths clear and improving drainage, the state minister said.

He also said the government was considering establishing more secondary transfer stations (STSs), including exploring underground facilities, to improve waste collection and disposal.

On medical waste management, he said the government was considering making the system used by icddr,b mandatory for hospitals and clinics.

Shahe Alam warned that residential allocations for government employees could be cancelled if proper waste management practices were not maintained in government residential quar-ters.

He said the prime minister would hold another review meeting after a month to assess pro-gress. The government had also approved the recruitment of 2,000 cleaning workers for Dhaka South City Corporation and 1,500 for Dhaka North City Corporation.