Staff Reporter:
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government would take appro-priate measures for making capital Dhaka more dynamic, attractive, livable and scenic city instead of twisting together with movements, agitation and campaign.
Speaking at a program titled ‘Dokkhiner Janala’ in the capital’s Bijoynagar yesterday afternoon, he said the government and the ministry would extend all necessary support in this regard.
At the program, organized by Dhaka South City Corporation, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir shared his personal feelings and opinions about city’s development.
Welcoming the new initiative titled ‘Dokkhiner Janala’ he said that at times he himself feels leaving Dhaka and settling at his village home.
Explaining the reason, he said one has to inhale polluted air and polluted oxygen as he/she steps outside the house.
He said city corporations are autonomous institutions under the local government. Local government institutions should think more deeply with patriotism and responsibility while transforming their duties.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that merely raising citizens’ awareness would not solve Dhaka city’s problems.
He said that although many development projects were implemented for the city, it was necessary to as-sess how much benefit city dwellers are actually receiving.
He also emphasized on effective planning, accountability and structural reforms to build a livable city. Those issues need to be addressed before undertaking projects, he said.
Recalling memories of his student life, the minister said that when he studied at Dhaka College, people could travel around the Buriganga River by boat.
But now the water of the Buriganga and Shitalakkhya rivers are now so polluted that it is difficult even to go near those rivers.
Sufficient effective projects were not being undertaken to free the Buriganga from pollution, he said.
He said that despite spending thousands of crores of money for development of the city’s drainage sys-tem, the citizens are not getting desired services. Groundwater level is declining alarmingly posing a great danger for the city, he noted.
The program was chaired by Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam.
Dhaka WASA Managing Director Aminul Islam, environment and water resources expert Ainun Nishat, Professor Kabirul Bashar of Department of Zoology at Jahangirnagar University and urban planner Pro-fessor Adil Muhammad Khan took part in the discussion, among others.
