Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has launched a tree-planting programme on the bank of the Zia Sarani canal at Japani Bazar in ward 60, under Kadamtali police station in the capital. A meeting was also held on eradicating drugs, improving drainage, repairing roads and drains, and other civic problems.

DSCC administrator and freedom fighter Md Abdus Salam opened the tree-planting drive as chief guest on Sunday, 13 September.

He said that just as the government and administration will work to solve the area's problems, citizens must also do their part. People's cooperation is needed to stop encroachment on and pollution of canals and drains, to stop dumping rubbish anywhere, to prevent drug abuse and to keep the area clean.

Of the 18 wards newly added to DSCC, a Tk 130 crore project to solve infrastructure problems in wards 58, 59, 60 and 61 is under government consideration, he said, and work will begin once it is approved. Walkways will also be built with space left on both sides of the drains so people can move about and the drains cannot be encroached on.

The administrator said that if rubbish is dumped again after drains and canals are cleaned, there will be no benefit, so citizens must also take responsibility for keeping them free of encroachment and pollution. He called on people to give up illegal occupation and not to build illegal shops on canal and drain land in future.

On drugs, he said social resistance must be built, and citizens should help the police and administration in this work. He also urged everyone not to let water collect anywhere, to prevent dengue, and to take part in regular cleaning.

On tree planting, the administrator said that to build a green, clean and liveable city, the planted trees must be cared for and protected as well as planted widely.

He said the city corporation alone cannot solve all the city's problems; with responsible participation by citizens, many problems can gradually be solved.

The meeting discussed drainage, road and drain development, drug prevention, cleanliness, tree planting and other civic problems in the area.

Leaders of the Dhaka South city BNP and others from the area, DSCC officials and staff, local dignitaries and residents were present.

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