Dhaka will be built into a clean and green city with everyone's cooperation and by everyone working together, said Shafiqul Islam Khan, administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

He was speaking on Saturday, 22 August, while inaugurating a tree planting programme in the capital's Uttara area.

Shafiqul Islam Khan said private organisations had come forward to implement this long-term greening plan in line with government directives, which would play a very effective role in building a sustainable environment.

The administrator said the government would give full cooperation to the city's greening programme. DNCC has undertaken to plant 5 lakh trees over the next five years; 55,000 have already been planted, and beautification and greening of main roads, including Mohakhali, Farmgate and Bijoynagar, is progressing quickly.

He added that the prime minister has announced the planting of 25 crore trees across the country in five years, and as part of this programme priority is being given to greening Dhaka.

A special feature of this planting programme is a guarantee of regular care and protection for the trees planted. Under the programme, about 1,500 students from 500 educational institutions will be directly involved in caring for the trees, and will later be brought under a scholarship scheme to encourage them. Calling the initiative very noble and far-sighted, the administrator said involving the young generation in protecting the environment in this way set an example for everyone.

Stressing a clean Dhaka alongside a green one, Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton said it was not possible to keep a megacity completely clean through the city corporation's efforts alone; ordinary citizens must be responsible and aware.

He asked people not to throw plastic bottles, disposable cups, tissues, water containers and rubbish on the streets or anywhere else, but to put them in designated bins or places. Only citizens' awareness and collective effort can turn the "Clean Dhaka, Green Dhaka" vision into reality, he said.

Among those present were Md Ziaur Rahman, regional executive officer of DNCC Zone 6; Syed Zahurul Alam, chief executive officer of Akij Food and Beverage Limited; and Mohammad Abul Kashem, superintending engineer of DNCC's environment, climate and disaster management circle.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.