Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday said proper planning and goodwill can make any area clean, green and beautiful, citing the visible transformation of Aminbazar over the past two months as an example.
“With proper planning and goodwill, an area can beautifully be transformed for the welfare and benefit of people. This place is the biggest proof of that,” he said.
The prime minister made the remarks after inaugurating a greening and beautification program along both sides of the Dhaka-Aricha highway by planting a sapling at Aminbazar while returning to Dhaka from Savar Cantonment.
He said the area has changed significantly over the past two months, creating a better environment for people living within around four kilometres of the site and making it easier for them to breathe cleaner air.
Tarique Rahman thanked Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanom and the officials and employees of the Local Government Ministry involved in the initiative for their efforts in transforming the area.
He urged local residents to help preserve the improved environment, saying the government has developed the area, but maintaining its beauty is now also the responsibility of the people living nearby.
“Local people must take responsibility for preserving the environmental improvements. With public cooperation alongside government initiatives, pollution and waste management problems can be gradually addressed,” the prime minister said.
He asked the DC to expand the greening program to other areas under Dhaka district near Aminbazar.
Tarique Rahman also suggested discussing with owners of mills and factories along the highway the possibility of assigning them responsibility for maintaining specific stretches.
The authorities concerned should also develop plans, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, to improve and beautify areas where waste still accumulates, he said.
The prime minister called on local lawmakers to cooperate with the district administration, expressing hope that coordinated efforts by public representatives and officials will gradually resolve waste management and environmental problems.
“Everyone must work together so that people can breathe fresh air and enjoy the beauty of nature,” he said.
Tarique Rahman said the Dhaka DC has set an example for the administration in other districts through the environmental improvement and beautification work at Aminbazar.
He expressed hope that DCs of other districts will take effective steps to transform similar areas into clean, green and attractive places.
BNP Standing Committee member and local MP Amanullah Aman, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku were present.
Earlier in the day, the prime minister attended a ceremony at Savar Cantonment to present National Standard to several battalions and regiments of the Bangladesh Army.
