United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam on Monday pledged to turn the areas under the city corporation into greener spaces to restore environmental balance and make Dhaka more liveable. He said tree plantation programmes will be conducted every day in different parts of the city to reduce air pollution and help restore the natural environment. The DSCC administrator made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a programme marking tree plantation and distribution of fruit-bearing, timber and medicinal saplings among students and guardians at Motijheel Government Boys' High School in the morning. The DSCC organised the programme in collaboration with Environment Development Organisation-Bangladesh as part of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's priority initiatives for environmental conservation and combating climate change. “Dhaka city no longer has the greenery it once had. Today, Dhaka ranks among the cities with the highest levels of air pollution in the world, which is not desirable for any of us. If we fail to maintain a clean and healthy environment, various diseases will emerge. There is no alternative to planting more trees to protect nature and reduce carbon dioxide emissions,” Salam, also a former student of Motijheel Government Boys' High School, said. Recalling his childhood memories, he said, “When I studied at this school, I saw beautiful gardens all around, but they are no longer there. Just as the Sundarbans protects Bangladesh as a natural shield during storms and cyclones, trees also keep us alive by providing oxygen.” Urging students to take an active role in protecting the environment, the DSCC administrator said, “The future leadership of the country will emerge from among you. You must prepare yourselves accordingly. I urge every student to plant at least one tree at home, on the rooftop or in a tub.” Dhaka-7 MP Hamidur Rahman Hamid and acting headteacher of Motijheel Government Boys' High School Tahmina Yasmin attended the programme as special guests with Prof Syeda Fatema Salam, president of Environment Development Organisation-Bangladesh, in the chair. At the end of the programme, the guests planted saplings on the school premises and distributed saplings of different species among students and guardians.

Calling for greater public awareness and collective action to ensure safe food for all, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Abdus Salam on Saturday urged people from all walks of life to build a social movement against food adulteration. He made the call while addressing a discussion marking World Food Safety Day and the 6th anniversary of the Food Safety Movement as the chief guest in the city. The programme was organised by the Food Safety Movement. The DSCC Administrator said food safety is directly linked to people's everyday lives and that ensuring safe food cannot be achieved through enforcement drives alone. "Public awareness remains one of the biggest challenges in ensuring food safety. A safe food system can only be established through the collective efforts of producers, traders, consumers and all relevant stakeholders," he said. He stressed the need to take food safety awareness campaigns beyond seminars and conferences by reaching mosques, madrasas and other public spaces. He also underscored the importance of involving food courts, street food vendors and small-scale food businesses in awareness initiatives. Highlighting the decline in social values, Abdus Salam said voluntary organisations, cultural groups, clubs and libraries had once played a significant role in promoting civic responsibility and social awareness. "If we can nurture greater humanity and social responsibility among people, the tendency to produce and sell adulterated food will also decline," he observed. Referring to the growing number of mobile and roadside food vendors in the capital, he said greater monitoring is needed to ensure the quality of water used in food preparation and cleaning practices. "Business should continue, but it must be conducted in an organised and hygienic manner," he added. The DSCC Administrator said the city corporation has been conducting regular mobile courts, inspections and awareness programmes to ensure food safety across the capital. "I want to stand with this social movement for safe food. Continue your campaign, and the city corporation will extend its full support as your partner," he said. The discussion was chaired by Acting President of the Food Safety Movement Prof Dr Mahmudul Islam Selim. Food safety experts, representatives of government and private organisations, journalists, academics and members of the organisation attended the programme. The speakers called for stronger monitoring and strict enforcement of food safety laws to better protect public health.