Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said the government has undertaken various initiatives to transform the capital into a clean, planned and livable city.
He made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled "Urban Waste Management is the Responsibility of All of Us" as the chief guest at the auditorium of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
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Speaking at the seminar, the minister said waste management has long remained a major challenge for Dhaka due to the city's growing population as the country's principal economic hub.
He said the government's or city corporations' efforts alone would not be enough to ensure a clean city, stressing the need for active public participation and responsible civic behaviour.
"If every citizen performs their responsibilities from their respective positions, the desired improvement in waste management can be achieved," he said.
The minister said Dhaka reflects a blend of urban and rural cultures and underscored the importance of strengthening civic discipline and public awareness to develop a modern urban culture.
Referring to AI-based traffic management, he said people are capable of following rules when effective monitoring and awareness measures are in place.
"As compliance with traffic rules is increasing through proper supervision and awareness, similar positive changes can also be achieved in waste management," he said.
The government is implementing various initiatives in line with the Prime Minister's directives to make waste management more modern, effective and citizen-friendly, saying their success would require coordinated efforts by the government, city corporations and the public, he said.
Besides, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam, who was present at the seminar, said city corporations should be transformed into self-reliant and fully functional institutions to overcome long-standing institutional weaknesses and coordination gaps in urban management.
Such a move would help bring RAJUK, WASA, power utilities, traffic police and other agencies involved in urban development under a unified legal and coordination framework, he said.
State Minister for Youth and Sports, Md Aminul Haque said tackling the challenge of urban waste management requires collective efforts rather than relying solely on the government.
He called for turning small initiatives at the individual and family levels into a broader social movement.
Meanwhile, DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan said the city corporation has been carrying out its public service activities with the support of responsible and conscious citizens.
He said the DNCC would work in coordination with other agencies to prevent waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall in the future.
The administrator also said cooperation from residents would be essential to free the 29 canals under the DNCC from encroachment and carry out excavation and rehabilitation works to ensure smooth water flow.
He pledged to work with local residents to remove encroachments from Mirpur canals and urged citizens to dispose of waste only at designated places instead of dumping it indiscriminately.
He also stressed the need for improved drainage infrastructure and keeping drains free from waste to eliminate urban waterlogging.