On the occasion of the UN Day, a series of clean-up campaigns were launched in Dhaka and Sylhet where the UN Staff was joined by members of the Bangladesh Scouts, City Cooperation Cleaners and Government officials.
However, a similar event in Cox's Bazar was postponed due to the predicted bad weather, according to a press release issued on Monday.
It was UN Day on Monday to honor the 77th anniversary of the ratification of the UN Charter in 1945. The fundamental instrument that establishes the United Nations' organization and mandate is the UN Charter. The UN has been operating in Bangladesh since 1971.
The campaigns were launched centrally at the South Plaza of the National Parliament by the Minister Tajul Islam, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, in the presence of Dr Md Mozammel Haque Khan, Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts, UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis, scouts, rover scouts, city cooperation cleaners and UN Officials.
CourtesyBraving the pouring rain some 200 scouts, city cleaners and UN personnel including the senior-most UN officials in the country joined the event. The spirit of solidarity and celebration was evident despite the sea of umbrellas.
In her brief remarks the UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis said: “To mark the occasion of UN Day, we are happy to be standing alongside so many local partners and actively working on achieving our shared goals. The cleanup events might only make a small dent when it comes to trash management, but person by person, street by street it can be transformative.”
Minister Tajul Islam noted: “The United Nations has been a trusted partner of Bangladesh since 1971. In the last 50 years, Bangladesh also greatly contributed to the UN as a proactive member state. I commend the UN and Bangladeshi Scouts for coming together to do the Clean-ups as part of the UN Day celebrations.”
Dr Md Mozammel Haque Khan, Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts, said that he was pleased to see the young Scouts joining the clean-up campaign even in such unfavorable weather condition.
Cleanup activities took place in five Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporation locations with the participation of local scouts, cleaners of the City Corporation and UN staff under the leadership of respective Ward Councilors.
The specific locations are: North side of Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Around Nagar Bhaban, Gulshan 2, Eden Women's College and College of Home Economics in Azimpur, Fulbaria- adjacent to Nagar Bhaban and Police Headquarters from Rajarbagh intersection to Malibagh intersection.
Simultaneously similar activities were undertaken in Sylhet with the support of local authorities, local scouts, City Corporation cleaners and UN Staff.
Dr Muhammad Mosharrof Hossian, Divisional Commissioner, Sylhet Division led the Sylhet cleanup campaign.
Dr Hossain said: “A cleaner and greener environment is what we need right now. We have gone through Covid-19 crisis, the devastating floods and now Dengue. If we can make the habit of keeping the environment clean as part of our life, we can make a better and greener Bangladesh.”