DHAKA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday announced a 12-point plan in parliament to transform the capital Dhaka into a clean and green city, outlining a series of measures ranging from waste-to-energy conversion to large-scale tree plantation drives.
Responding to a question from a ruling party lawmaker in the parliament, Rahman said, "Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations are implementing various initiatives to achieve the goal."
The action plan comes in the backdrop of Dhaka's severe air quality challenges, with high pollution levels during the dry season frequently reaching "unhealthy" or "hazardous" levels. As part of the plan, Rahman said weekly public awareness programs are being conducted alongside intensified cleanliness and mosquito control drives.
The government is also modernizing secondary waste transfer stations and promoting environmentally friendly waste management involving landscaping, greening, and awareness graffiti, he added.
On urban greening, Rahman said tree plantation programs have been undertaken on roads and open spaces, with a target of planting 500,000 trees in the city over the next five years, he mentioned.
Moreover, Rahman said the Department of Environment and Dhaka's Transport Coordination Authority are jointly introducing modern bus services and launching electric buses.
For water pollution control, he said, effluent treatment plants have been made mandatory for industries.
He expressed the hope that through these combined initiatives, Dhaka will gradually become a clean and green city. ■