Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) aims to transform the capital into a model city through efforts to make it cleaner, greener and more peaceful, with a focus on improving the overall urban environment.
DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam said he wants to establish Dhaka as a model of development by turning this vision into reality.
He said the corporation's cleanliness campaign would continue until the capital was clean.
He made the remarks on Saturday while speaking at a cleanliness and mosquito-control drive organized on Bailey Road in the capital as part of the DSCC's weekly Cleaning Day program.
The DSCC administrator said: “Since taking responsibility, I have been trying to bring the Dhaka city corporation closer to the people. At the same time, I want to establish an accountable system for the public. Various activities are being carried out every day toward that goal.”
Outlining plans to develop Bailey Road as a specially designated clean road, he said the entire stretch from one end of the road to Shantinagar intersection would be declared a special road. The initiative would be expanded later, he added.
He said the road would be kept clean, with no garbage allowed to accumulate anywhere along the stretch.
Abdus Salam said discussions had already been held with Bailey Road residents, adding that a separate cleanliness campaign would be organized with their participation.
Initiatives would also be taken to plant trees in the area and keep the sidewalks clean, he said.
The DSCC administrator said keeping Dhaka clean was essential to protecting residents from mosquito infestations and dengue. Similarly, protecting the city from air pollution would be difficult without maintaining cleanliness.
“There is no alternative to keeping Dhaka clean, beautiful, green and pollution-free if we want to live healthy lives,” he said.
Seeking cooperation from city residents, Abdus Salam urged people not to dump garbage indiscriminately. He particularly called on business owners to keep the areas in front of their establishments clean.
“Garbage collected while cleaning shops must not be dumped on the streets. It must be disposed of at designated locations,” he said.
He also urged conscious citizens and local volunteers to contribute to cleanliness activities, calling on people across all wards and neighborhoods to participate in the campaign.
He said residents should monitor whether garbage was being dumped illegally and whether the city corporation was collecting waste properly. They should also inform the corporation if mosquito infestations were found in any area and check whether mosquito-control chemicals were being sprayed.
He added that everyone should stand beside the public to ensure citizens received the necessary services and facilities.
“We believe that one day Dhaka will become a beautiful and peaceful city. It will be developed as a model of development and gain recognition worldwide as a beautiful city befitting the capital of Bangladesh,” he said.
The DSCC chief executive officer, chief waste management officer, chief health officer and other officials, along with local dignitaries and volunteers, were present at the event.
As part of Cleaning Day, special cleanliness and mosquito-control drives, along with public awareness activities, were also conducted across all 75 wards under the leadership of the corporation's regional executive officers.