Despite Bangladesh’s reputation as a country of rivers, historically speaking, we have failed miserably in retaining the environmental integrity of our rivers. Indeed, the argument can well be extended to our laissez faire attitude towards water bodies in general, which has resulted in the majority of our canals all but disappearing due to a host of reasons.
From unplanned urbanization, the forces of illegal occupation and encroachment, and indeed general callousness, Bangladesh has -- over the years -- lost the majority of its canals. While the previous government had attempted to sort out the many hurdles which get in the way of Bangladeshis once again being able to see pristine canals, such endeavours have ultimately led to disappointment.
To this end, it is good to see the interim government’s renewed vigour regarding this issue, as the administration has launched its nationwide canal cleanup drive which seeks to clean 64 canals and water bodies -- one in each district -- during the first 15 days of November.
What is particularly noteworthy about the campaign is how various ministries are collaborating on this campaign -- historically speaking, multiple ministries tackling a singular issue has been rare in Bangladesh, with the previous government in particular having shown very little in the way of coordination for any given issue, an attitude which could even be witnessed between the two city corporations in Dhaka.
This is exactly the kind of coordinated, pro-active operation that we have been asking for from the interim government, and while it is good to see this in operation for such a long-standing problem, it is high time the administration expanded itself to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing citizens today.
There is much work to be done to restore our canals, but the current campaign is a very good start.
From unplanned urbanization, the forces of illegal occupation and encroachment, and indeed general callousness, Bangladesh has -- over the years -- lost the majority of its canals. While the previous government had attempted to sort out the many hurdles which get in the way of Bangladeshis once again being able to see pristine canals, such endeavours have ultimately led to disappointment.
To this end, it is good to see the interim government’s renewed vigour regarding this issue, as the administration has launched its nationwide canal cleanup drive which seeks to clean 64 canals and water bodies -- one in each district -- during the first 15 days of November.
What is particularly noteworthy about the campaign is how various ministries are collaborating on this campaign -- historically speaking, multiple ministries tackling a singular issue has been rare in Bangladesh, with the previous government in particular having shown very little in the way of coordination for any given issue, an attitude which could even be witnessed between the two city corporations in Dhaka.
This is exactly the kind of coordinated, pro-active operation that we have been asking for from the interim government, and while it is good to see this in operation for such a long-standing problem, it is high time the administration expanded itself to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing citizens today.
There is much work to be done to restore our canals, but the current campaign is a very good start.