A clean and healthy environment is a shared obligation between the government and its citizens.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's call for collective cooperation in keeping the country clean is, therefore, both timely and necessary.
His message -- that Bangladesh can only become beautiful, safe, and liveable if its people take ownership of their surroundings -- deserves to be taken seriously.
Littering has, unfortunately, become an accepted part of daily life in many parts of the country. Plastic bottles tossed into canals, waste dumped beside roads, and overflowing garbage piles in public spaces have become common sights.
Beyond diminishing the country's appearance, such practices pollute the environment, clog drainage systems, worsen urban flooding, and create serious public health hazards. These are problems that no amount of government spending can fully solve without public cooperation.
That being said, encouraging responsible behaviour must be complemented by effective public policy: Authorities at both the national and local levels must ensure adequate waste collection, sufficient public bins, efficient recycling initiatives, and stricter enforcement against illegal dumping.
Public awareness campaigns should begin in schools and continue through communities, so that proper waste disposal becomes a lifelong habit rather than an occasional effort.
The prime minister's own example of carrying used tissues until they can be disposed of properly underscores an important truth: Meaningful change often begins with simple individual actions.
If millions of citizens adopt similar habits, the cumulative impact could be transformative.
Ultimately, building a cleaner Bangladesh will require more than periodic clean-up drives or symbolic campaigns; it warrants a sustained partnership between government institutions, local authorities, businesses, and the public.
Keeping our streets, waterways, neighbourhoods, and public spaces clean is an investment in our environment, our health, and the country's future. The responsibility belongs to all of us, and it's time that we embraced it.
