Not a ceremonial gesture!

Staff Reporter :

The issue of a red carpet being rolled out for three advisers to the interim government at the inauguration of the reclamation work of six canals in Dhaka South and North cities on Sunday went viral on social media, sparking widespread discussion and criticism.

The inauguration event was held on the road adjacent to the Baunia Canal in the Rupshi Pro-Active Village Residential Area of Mirpur-13 in the morning, marking the commencement of renovation work on six canals under the two Dhaka city corporations.

Advisers in attendance included Syeda Rizwana Hasan, responsible for Environment, Forest, Climate Change, and Water Resources; Adilur Rahman Khan, overseeing Housing, Public Works, and Industries; and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, responsible for Local Government, Rural Development, Cooperatives, Youth, and Sports.
A journalist asked Syeda Rizwana Hasan, “We have previously seen city mayors organise such grand inaugurations, but perhaps never with a red carpet. Today (Sunday), we saw you walk on one to reach the canal.”

In response, Syeda Rizwana Hasan smiled and said, “I did not notice it. Have you?”

However, the red carpet issue created a storm on social media, with many users questioning the necessity of such a grand gesture for a canal excavation project.

When asked about future plans, Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated, “We will begin efforts to make Dhaka’s four rivers pollution-free this February. Countries like South Korea, China, the UK, and Nepal have taken nearly a decade to achieve similar goals. We will finalise an action plan outlining tasks for the first, second, and third years.”

She also mentioned that a delegation from the Asian Development Bank would visit Dhaka on 16 February to share experiences from reclaiming three rivers in Nepal, Indonesia, and China. Pollution was mapped using GPS, revealing a three to five-metre thick layer of polythene beneath the rivers.

The initiative to renovate six canals in Dhaka South and North aims to bring environmental, economic, and social improvements to citizens’ lives through the recovery and effective management of all water bodies in Dhaka and its surrounding areas, she added.
When journalists inquired about the red carpet, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) authorities clarified that the floating excavator was placed on a temporary platform rather than a permanent pontoon.

Due to the steep, muddy access path and the slippery floor of the excavator, a red carpet-like mat was used to ensure safe movement for guests and enhance visibility, not as a ceremonial gesture, DNCC explained.

DNCC further cautioned against misinterpretations in media reports suggesting that guests walked on a red carpet to descend into the canal and board the floating excavator.

The organisation emphasised that this was not an official red carpet but a safety measure taken solely to ensure secure access.