Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday outlined the government’s 12-point action plan to transform the capital, Dhaka, into a “clean and green city”.
“Various measures are being taken through Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations under the Local Government Division to develop the capital, Dhaka, into a clean and green city,” he said while responding a question from treasury bench MP Abul Kalam (Cumilla-9) during the question-answer session in Parliament.
The Prime Minister said weekly awareness programmes are being carried out to increase civic awareness and engagement, alongside intensified cleanliness drives and mosquito control activities.
He also said secondary transfer stations (waste disposal points) are being modernised with landscaping, greenery and awareness graffiti to ensure environment-friendly waste management.
Tarique said a plan has been taken to transform Matuail Landfill into an integrated circular economy-based waste management and energy production centre with investment from a Korea-based private company, aiming to achieve zero waste.
He expressed hope that through these activities and integrated management, it would be possible to gradually build a clean and green Dhaka city.
The parliamentary session began at 11am with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in the chair.
A total of eight questions were listed for the Prime Minister, of which he answered two along with supplementary queries within the allotted time.
As part of the other initiatives and plans to develop Dhaka into a clean and green city, the Prime Minister said tree plantation programmes have been undertaken to green the road medians, road islands and open spaces under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
Similarly, he said urban forestry (Miyawaki forest) is being implemented in various areas under the jurisdiction of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), while open medians are being converted into zero-soil and green-covered spaces.
Tarique also said a target has been set to plant 5 lakh trees in areas under DNCC over the next five years. “In addition, trees will be planted in the vacant spaces beneath the metro rail line from Mirpur-12 to Mirpur DOHS, as well as under the elevated expressway from Abdullahpur to Farmgate.”
In his written speech, the Prime Minister said priority has been given to controlling environmental pollution in order to build a clean and green Dhaka.
As part of this effort, he said the Department of Environment and the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) are jointly working to introduce modern bus services and operate 250 electric buses.
Tarique also said major sources of air pollution in Dhaka have been identified with support from the World Bank.
“Accordingly, the Department of Environment is working to control air pollution in the city. Regular mobile court drives are being conducted against vehicles emitting black smoke and pollution caused by building materials and construction activities,”
He also said initiatives have been taken to shut down illegal brick kilns around Dhaka. “Regular mobile court drives and enforcement activities are being carried out to achieve this goal.”
To reduce air pollution in Dhaka city, the Prime Minister said Savar Upazila has been declared a degraded airshed and activities such as operating brick kilns and burning waste in open spaces in the area have been banned.
He said installation of effluent treatment plants (ETPs) has been made mandatory for industries discharging liquid waste to prevent pollution of rivers, canals and water bodies in and around Dhaka.
So far, 248 establishments have installed ETPs, and the installation of cameras for real-time monitoring of these treatment systems is ongoing, Tarique added.
He said the Department of Environment has already identified the sources and nature of pollution in the Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Balu and Turag rivers. “At the same time, the sources and nature of pollution in 19 major canals flowing through Dhaka city have also been identified.”
To make Dhaka city greener, reduce environmental pollution and improve its overall beauty, the Prime Minister said the Forest Department has implemented tree plantation and zero-soil programmes through a joint initiative with Dhaka North and South City Corporations, the Water Development Board and the Roads and Highways Department.
Under this initiative, he said tree plantation has been carried out on road medians, U-loops, ponding areas and canal banks through a memorandum of understanding among the concerned agencies. “A total of 41,565 saplings of fruit-bearing, forest, medicinal and ornamental trees have been planted under the programme.”
To reduce pollution in Dhaka city, Tarique said the ground has been covered with various types of vines, shrubs and grasses.
“As part of a nationwide programme to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years, initiatives are being taken to plant trees on available vacant and afforestation-suitable lands in order to develop Dhaka as a clean and green city,” he said.