‘City Govt system needed to fix Dhaka’s urban woes’

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Wednesday called for introducing an integrated “City Government” system to improve urban management, saying lack of coordination among agencies remains the biggest obstacle to solving Dhaka’s problems.

The state minister made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled “Urban Waste Management: A Shared Responsibility”, organised by the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on Wednesday.

He said bringing key service providers under a unified framework could address a significant portion of the capital’s challenges, including waste management, drainage, pollution and urban planning.

He said city corporations are often blamed for urban problems despite lacking authority over major agencies such as traffic police, WASA, RAJUK and power distribution authorities.

“If these institutions are brought under a unified City Government framework, it may not solve every problem, but it could resolve 50 to 70 percent of the city’s challenges,” he said.

Mir Shahe Alam said many urban issues require inter-ministerial coordination because city corporations cannot compel different agencies to participate in joint planning and implementation.

He said the Prime Minister remains committed to improving urban management, cleanliness, greening initiatives, restoration of canals and lakes, and waste management.

Highlighting the need for public participation, the state minister said government initiatives alone would not be enough to build a clean city.

“Many people still litter despite the availability of dustbins. This long-standing habit must change. Awareness about cleanliness should be promoted through families, educational institutions and society,” he said.

He announced that primary school textbooks from next year would include lessons on cleanliness, waste management, environmental conservation, ethics and social responsibility.

The minister said the government was implementing several waste-to-energy projects as a long-term solution to waste management challenges.

Under an agreement with a Chinese company, the Aminbazar landfill project aims to supply 43 megawatts of electricity to the national grid by July-August in 2028.

The project, which had remained stalled for three years, resumed after intervention by the Prime Minister.

He said more than 12 million tonnes of waste had accumulated at the Aminbazar landfill, requiring special measures for proper management.

Mir Shahe Alam also said a memorandum of understanding had been signed with a South Korean company to develop the Dhaka South City Corporation landfill.

Under the project, the company will independently finance the initiative to generate electricity, organic fertiliser, fish and poultry feed, fuel oil from plastic waste and construction materials.

The government will not invest in the project, he said, adding that the company would pay land rent and compensate the city corporation at a rate of 10 paisa per kilogram of waste used.

An inter-ministerial meeting led by the Local Government Division secretary will review the project’s progress on Thursday, while a presentation will be prepared within 10 days following the Prime Minister’s directive.

The state minister said untreated sewage discharged into lakes was a major source of pollution in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Hatirjheel.

Although the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is the country’s largest sewage treatment facility, only around 30 percent of its capacity is currently being used due to inadequate sewerage connections.

He said a Development Project Proposal (DPP) had already been submitted to the Planning Commission to connect sewerage networks in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Hatirjheel with the Dasherkandi STP.

Once implemented, the project would increase the plant’s utilisation and reduce pollution in canals and lakes, he added.

He also encouraged apartment buildings to install small-scale sewage treatment plants so treated water could be reused for gardening, vehicle washing and other purposes.

To address overlapping responsibilities among agencies, Mir Shahe Alam said Dhanmondi Lake had been handed over to the Dhaka South City Corporation for 50 years under the Prime Minister’s directive.

He said excavation, beautification, lighting and infrastructure development were underway at the lake, while restoration work continued at Hatirjheel, Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara lakes.

Expressing concern over recent waterlogging in Dhaka, the state minister said heavy rainfall and drains blocked by waste had disrupted water drainage.

He said city corporation workers were working to remove water as quickly as possible.
“Transforming this unplanned metropolis into a planned and livable city will take time.

The government is fully committed, but success will not be possible without the cooperation of citizens,” he said.

He urged residents to avoid littering and actively participate in maintaining cleanliness and proper waste management.

Minister of State for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque attended the seminar as a special guest, while DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan chaired the event.