Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said the Rajshahi metropolis will be freed from polythene and garbage by this year-end.

“Our city will be the first habitat freeing from all sorts of waste and bad-smell throughout the country,” he added while addressing a meeting of clean city campaign at Rajshahi College auditorium in the city yesterday as chief guest.

Liton sought all-out cooperation of all city dwellers including youths and volunteers to make the city corporation clean. BD Clean, a volunteer organisation, organised the meeting to mark the oath-taking of its members and get-together.

Chaired by Principal of Rajshahi College Prof Habibur Rahman, the meeting was addressed, among others, by RCC Panel Mayor Shariful Islam Babu, Principal of Teachers Training College Prof Shirin Akter, Director of Department of Secondary and Higher Education Prof Abdul Mannan, Chief Coordinator of BD Clean Farid Uddin and its Rajshahi Divisional Coordinator Naimul Islam Saquib.

Mayor Liton said: “Our environment is a testimony to the state of our mentality. We indiscriminately pollute our environment. We know that one day’s cleaning operation is not enough but we have to make an effort to change our habit. We have to remember not only to clean but also to stop throwing garbage to protect our environment”.

He highlighted the importance of maintaining cleanliness at office premises, institutions, homesteads and open places in the city since cleanliness is a must to keep air fresh and improve environment.

In absence of adequate awareness programmes and coordinated waste management initiative, people dump wastes and make streets and public places dirty, Liton added.

After conducting an oath-taking session he urged the BD Clean members to create public awareness in this regard.