‘Act out of responsibility, don’t wait for orders’

The prime minister made the remarks at a review meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat on pollution control, waste removal, conservation and management of rivers around Dhaka, ensuring navigability and developing the circular waterways

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday directed all concerned not to wait for instructions from higher authorities but to act on their own sense of responsibility to make rivers around Dhaka pollution-free and ensure a liveable environment for future generations.

“We cannot simply wait for government directives; we must also act out of our own sense of responsibility,” he said.

The prime minister made the remarks at a review meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat on pollution control, waste removal, conservation and management of rivers around Dhaka, ensuring navigability and developing the circular waterways.

Prime Minister’s Assistant Press Secretary Gazi Shahriar Pamir told reporters that the meeting reviewed measures to control pollution and remove waste from the Buriganga, Turag, Dhaleshwari, Balu and Shitalakkhya rivers and their adjoining canals and drains.

The meeting also reviewed measures to ensure navigability and normal water flow and improve the existing circular waterways around Dhaka.
The prime minister directed the authorities to take effective steps to swiftly implement plans adopted so far, stressing proper coordination among the concerned ministries, divisions and agencies.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Industries and Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, State Minister for Shipping Md Razib Ahsan, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Dr Md Saimum Parvez, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar and Commander of Bangladesh Navy’s Dhaka Naval Area Rear Admiral Abdullah-Al-Maqsoos, among others, attended the meeting.

Secretaries of the concerned ministries and divisions, administrators of Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur city corporations and other senior officials concerned were also present.