For a cleaner Dhaka

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali laid emphasis on turning Dhaka into a ‘cleaner and eye-catching’ city maintaining international standards through joint efforts at a recent ‘clean city campaign’ on the foreign ministry premises. It is the responsibility of every citizen to keep his or her surroundings neat and clean. But unfortunately the culture of cleanliness is yet to grow in this country: the inhabitants of the city hardly care to keep the city neat and clean. Throwing of plastic bags, papers, tissue papers, cigarette butts, fruit skins and biodegradable substance has become a part of urban culture.
The insensitivity that is contributing to ‘uncleanness’ is not only confined to areas inhabited by poor communities, it has also engulfed posh areas where affluent people live. Even the people who have traveled a number of countries make the same foul mistake. As if keeping the city clean is nobody’s business. Why this apathy to the city which is inhabited by about one and a half crore people?
In many developed countries keeping roads, thoroughfares, pavements, parks and other public places clean and tidy is mandatory. As violators of the laws relating to cleanliness have to face action; few dares to break the laws. But, unfortunately, in our country in the absence of stringent rules and vigilance people behave recklessly.
The number of dustbins in the city is not enough and the existing ones are not cleaned on a regular basis. Whenever those are cleaned it is too late. As a result, stinking smells from those pollute the environment. Disposal of garbage and waste must be done early in the morning when movement of people is thin. It is the responsibility of the city corporations to clean those regularly. More dustbins and garbage disposal places should be set up in the city without delay.
There are some places in the capital where passersby have to press handkerchiefs on their noses to keep foul and oppressive smells at bay. When such is the condition of the locals, what impression will the foreigners who come to Dhaka grow? The overall mindset of the people should be changed. Massive awareness should be generated among people to keep the city clean.
Not only the capital, concerted and coordinated efforts should be made to keep other towns and cities clean. Members of the law enforcing agencies, environmentalists and civil society can play their vital roles in this regard. For achieving the middle income group status utmost emphasis should be laid to make the city clean and environment friendly.     

 

For a cleaner Dhaka

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali laid emphasis on turning Dhaka into a cleaner and eye-catching city maintaining international standards through joint efforts at a recent clean city campaign on the foreign ministry premises. It is the responsibility of every citizen to keep his or her surroundings neat and clean. But unfortunately the culture of cleanliness is yet to grow in this country: the inhabitants of the city hardly care to keep the city neat and clean. Throwing of plastic bags, papers, tissue papers, cigarette butts, fruit skins and biodegradable substance has become a part of urban culture. The insensitivity that is contributing to uncleanness is not only confined to areas inhabited by poor communities, it has also engulfed posh areas where affluent people live. Even the people who have traveled a number of countries make the same foul mistake. As if keeping the city clean is nobodys business. Why this apathy to the city which is inhabited by about one and a half crore people? In many developed countries keeping roads, thoroughfares, pavements, parks and other public places clean and tidy is mandatory. As violators of the laws relating to cleanliness have to face action; few dares to break the laws. But, unfortunately, in our country in the absence of stringent rules and vigilance people behave recklessly. The number of dustbins in the city is not enough and the existing ones are not cleaned on a regular basis. Whenever those are cleaned it is too late. As a result, stinking smells from those pollute the environment. Disposal of garbage and waste must be done early in the morning when movement of people is thin. It is the responsibility of the city corporations to clean those regularly. More dustbins and garbage disposal places should be set up in the city without delay. There are some places in the capital where passersby have to press handkerchiefs on their noses to keep foul and oppressive smells at bay. When such is the condition of the locals, what impression will the foreigners who come to Dhaka grow? The overall mindset of the people should be changed. Massive awareness should be generated among people to keep the city clean. Not only the capital, concerted and coordinated efforts should be made to keep other towns and cities clean. Members of the law enforcing agencies, environmentalists and civil society can play their vital roles in this regard. For achieving the middle income group status utmost emphasis should be laid to make the city clean and environment friendly.