PM orders clean-up of Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday directed the authorities concerned to take immediate and coordinated measures to protect the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake environment by preventing water pollution, improving waste management and strengthening sewage infrastructure.

The directive came during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat to review sewerage connections of buildings in the Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan areas, as well as the overall plan to make the lake pollution-free, according to Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

The Prime Minister stressed the need for coordinated efforts involving the relevant ministries, city corporations and other agencies to ensure proper waste management in surrounding buildings, control water pollution and safeguard the area’s environment.

Officials informed the meeting that short-, medium- and long-term plans had already been prepared to tackle the pollution problem.

The meeting also discussed the establishment of sewage treatment plants (STPs) as a key measure to protect the environment of the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara-Niketan area.

Participants reviewed plans for the regular cleaning of the lake and its connected canals, removal of accumulated waste and maintenance of the natural water flow to improve the health of the lake ecosystem.

The meeting also examined possible measures to stop waste generated in the Korail slum from being discharged directly into the lake.

Among those attending the meeting were Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Sumon, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahmad Sohel Monjur, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqul Islam Milton, RAJUK Chairman Riazul Islam, along with secretaries of the relevant ministries and senior government officials.

This version follows standard news style by using the simple past for reported events and past perfect (“had already been prepared”) where appropriate to indicate actions completed before the meeting.