Dhaka has still not become a fully liveable city for lack of far-sighted planning and able leadership, said Muhammad Selim Uddin, ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka Metropolitan North.

He made the remark on Friday (5 June) while inaugurating a 10-day tree planting programme at the T&T ground in Mohakhali. He is Jamaat's nominated mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation.

To mark World Environment Day, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka Metropolitan North took an unusual initiative to curb plastic pollution and make city dwellers environmentally aware: anyone who handed in plastic bottles received tree saplings free of charge. Tree lovers from Mohakhali and nearby areas handed in bottles and took away fruit, forest and medicinal saplings, and children also came to exchange bottles for plants.

Selim Uddin said the main aims of the programme were to ensure recycling of plastic waste and raise public awareness of environmental protection. Jamaat-e-Islami has long worked for environmental conservation, better waste management and a pollution-free city, he said, and through the tree planting programme the party wants to make Dhaka greener, cleaner and more environmentally friendly.

He said air pollution, black smoke from vehicles, noise pollution and unplanned waste management have made life miserable for city dwellers, and honest leadership and effective planning are needed to solve these problems.

Stressing young people's participation, he said the environmental movement must be strengthened by involving youth. Young people must come forward to build rooftop gardens on every building, plant more trees and recycle waste.

Calling for a "vehicle-free day" at least once a year, he said encouraging cycling and walking instead of motor vehicles on that day would have a positive effect on the environment and public health.

Other speakers said a social movement must be built to protect the environment and control pollution, and that the collective efforts of city dwellers are the main way to build a liveable Dhaka.

The event was chaired by Yasin Arafat, president of the youth and sports department of Dhaka Metropolitan North, and moderated by the department's secretary, Dr Mostafa Faisal Parvez. Special guests included Dr Fakhruddin Manik, member of the central Majlis-e-Shura and assistant secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan North; publicity and media secretary Ataur Rahman Sarkar; former Chhatra Shibir central president Zahidul Islam; youth department vice-president Dr Mainuddin; and Banani thana ameer Mizanur Rahman Khan, among others.

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