PM stresses clean, green Dhaka
Staff Reporter :
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday emphasised the need to build a clean and green capital while ensuring effective protection for city dwellers against mosquito infestation.
The premier raised the issues during a meeting with administrators of major city corporations at his office in the Secretariat, according to officials present.
After the meeting, Md Abdus Salam told reporters that the prime minister highlighted three priorities—ensuring a clean Dhaka, creating a greener urban environment and strengthening measures to control mosquitoes.
Administrators from the Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation and Gazipur City Corporation attended the meeting.
Salam said the administrators briefed the prime minister about the financial challenges currently facing the city corporations. Revenue collection in recent months has fallen short of expectations and remains lower than in previous years, creating a financial strain on municipal operations.
“We informed the prime minister about the matter,” he said, adding that the city authorities sought a block allocation to keep the corporations running and requested him to direct the Local Government Division to extend support for ongoing and planned projects.
Salam also warned that numerous work orders issued by the previous administration could put the city corporations at risk if implemented without review.
“If we proceed based on all the work orders they have given, the city corporation will collapse. That cannot be done in any way,” he said.
With the monsoon season approaching and concerns rising over possible outbreaks of Dengue fever, Salam stressed that mosquito control measures must be ensured at any cost.
He also said Dhaka must be cleaned urgently, describing the capital as having turned into a “factory of waste” that now requires systematic reform.
According to Salam, the administrators of Dhaka South, Dhaka North and Gazipur have been working together since assuming office to improve waste management systems across the city. Several initiatives, including canal excavation and cleanliness drives, have already begun to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.
“I have launched a one-month crash programme in Dhaka South to improve cleanliness,” he said.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Md Safiqul Islam Khan highlighted the severe financial distress facing the Dhaka North City Corporation.
“The corporation is now in a fragile condition. There is no fund, yet tenders and work orders worth Tk 1,470 crore have been issued,” he said.
Khan said that before leaving office, the previous administrator signed 34 files involving payments shortly before the February 12 city election. However, the corporation currently has only Tk 25 crore in funds.
From that amount, Tk 13 crore is required every month for staff salaries, leaving only Tk 12 crore available for other expenses, he said.
“You can analyse how we will carry out development activities,” he added.
Despite the financial strain, the administrators said the prime minister assured them of the government’s support.
“We are not disappointed. We will move forward and provide the necessary public services,” Khan said, adding that the city authorities would continue preparations to serve residents and fulfil their commitments to public welfare.
