Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan has said Dhaka will be turned into a clean and green city through collective efforts.
He made the remarks while inaugurating a tree plantation programme in the capital’s Uttara on Saturday.
The DNCC administrator said private organisations have come forward to implement the government’s long-term greening plan, which he said would play an important role in creating a sustainable urban environment.
He said the government would provide all-out support for the city’s greening initiatives.
The DNCC has taken an initiative to plant 500,000 trees across its area over the next five years. So far, around 55,000 trees have been planted, while work to beautify and green road medians in areas including Mohakhali, Farmgate and Bijoynagar is progressing rapidly.
He said the Prime Minister has announced a plan to plant 25 crore trees across the country over five years, with greening Dhaka receiving special attention under the initiative.
A key feature of the programme is the regular maintenance and protection of the trees after they are planted. Around 1,500 students from 500 educational institutions will be directly involved in taking care of the trees.
The students will later be brought under a scholarship programme to encourage wider participation among young people in environmental protection.
Terming the initiative “noble and visionary”, Khan said involving young people in protecting the environment could set an example for others.
He also stressed the need to keep Dhaka clean alongside greening the city, saying it was not possible for the city corporation alone to keep a megacity completely clean.
“Citizens must also be responsible and aware,” he said.
The DNCC administrator urged people to dispose of plastic bottles, single-use cups, tissues, water containers and other waste in designated bins or places instead of throwing them on streets or in open spaces.
He said only through public awareness and collective efforts could the vision of a “Clean Dhaka, Green Dhaka” be turned into reality.