DHAKA, June 6, (V7N) – LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the government will take appropriate measures to make capital Dhaka a more dynamic, attractive, livable, and scenic city, rather than one entangled with movements, agitation, and campaigns. He made the remarks at a programme titled ‘Dokkhiner Janala’ in the capital's Bijoynagar area, organized by Dhaka South City Corporation.
The minister shared personal feelings about city development, admitting that he sometimes feels like leaving Dhaka to settle at his village home. Explaining why, he noted that one has to inhale polluted air and "polluted oxygen" as soon as they step outside their house. He said city corporations are autonomous institutions that should think more deeply with patriotism and responsibility while transforming their duties.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that merely raising citizens' awareness will not solve Dhaka's problems. While many development projects have been implemented for the city, he said it is necessary to assess how much benefit city dwellers are actually receiving. He emphasized effective planning, accountability, and structural reforms before undertaking new projects.
Recalling his student life at Dhaka College, the minister said people could once travel around the Buriganga River by boat, but now the Buriganga and Shitalakkhya rivers are so polluted that it is difficult even to go near them. He noted that sufficient effective projects have not been undertaken to free the Buriganga from pollution.
He also said that despite spending thousands of crores on the city's drainage system, citizens are not getting desired services, while the groundwater level is declining alarmingly, posing a great danger for the city. The programme was chaired by Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, with Dhaka WASA MD Aminul Islam and experts Ainun Nishat, Kabirul Bashar, and Adil Muhammad Khan taking part in the discussion.
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