PM seeks joint efforts to protect rivers, curb dengue

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged people to take personal responsibility for protecting Bangladesh’s rivers and environment, warning that government orders alone will not be enough to secure a clean, liveable future.

At a review meeting in the secretariat, officials examined pollution control, waste removal and river conservation efforts involving the Buriganga, Turag, Dhaleshwari, Balu and Shitalakhya rivers. The discussions also covered nearby canals and drains, maintaining natural water flow, ensuring navigability and improving Dhaka’s existing circular waterways.

Rahman instructed the relevant authorities to implement plans already adopted and improve coordination among ministries, divisions and agencies to speed up the work. He said people should act from their respective positions rather than wait for government directives to protect rivers and waterways.

At a separate meeting on dengue, Rahman ordered authorities to intensify cleanliness drives and public awareness campaigns across the country with greater public participation, according to his deputy press secretary Hasan Shiplu. He also directed officials to involve Disaster Management volunteers, Bangladesh National Cadet Corps members, Rover Scouts and Red Crescent volunteers.

The meeting reviewed steps to strengthen dengue treatment and patient management at upazila-level hospitals. Rahman stressed that decisions made in the capital must produce visible action beyond the meeting room: “The decisions must be reflected in the field.”

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The decisions must be reflected in the field.