Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Yusuf Ali on Saturday called for turning dengue prevention and cleanliness activities into a social movement by encouraging people to keep their own surroundings clean.
“We must not remain dependent only on cleaners for maintaining cleanliness; rather, we need to develop the habit of cleaning our own spaces ourselves,” he said.
He made the remarks while attending a live telecast of the nationwide dengue prevention and cleanliness campaign inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building.
The programme was screened through a video conference at the conference room of the Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner’s Office.
The divisional commissioner said extensive initiatives have been taken in Rajshahi as part of the three-month nationwide dengue prevention and cleanliness campaign announced by the prime minister.
In the first phase, cleanliness drives are being conducted at government offices. Educational institutions, religious institutions, dengue hotspots and drains in municipalities and city corporations across the division will gradually be brought under the campaign, he said.
Yusuf Ali said necessary instructions have been issued to Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) to implement the campaign at the grassroots level.
Initiatives have also been taken to remove stagnant water from rooftops, flower tubs and other potential mosquito-breeding sites around homes and offices, while ensuring proper cleanliness of the premises.
Volunteer organisations, including Girls Guide, Scouts and BD Clean, have been engaged to turn the campaign into a mass initiative.
The virtual conference was attended by Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam and Superintendent of Police Mamun Or Rashid, along with government and non-government officials and employees, teachers and students, scouts and journalists.
Following the programme, the divisional commissioner formally inaugurated the dengue prevention and cleanliness campaign in Rajshahi by participating in a cleaning drive at the premises of the Divisional Commissioner’s and Deputy Commissioner’s offices.
Earlier, a colourful rally was brought out from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office premises. The rally paraded through important roads in the city before returning to the same venue.
