PM orders waterways around Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered rivers surrounding Dhaka to be made navigable and freed of pollution.

A meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday discussed the revival of the Buriganga and other rivers in the Dhaka metropolitan area and the building of circular roads and waterways, prime minister’s press secretary AKM Shamim Chowdhury told bdnews24.com.

“This is our project, so we are the ones who must implement it,” she said. “This plan will bring about positive changes in the capital’s environment.”

“We’ll initiate swift measures to recover Buriganga and free it from pollution. The shipping ministry has to start circular water routes soon. There will be a circular route connecting Ashulia-Sadarghat-Fotulla-Kanchpur.”

File Photo

She ordered the Roads and Highways Department and the Water Development Board to build the Eastern bypass road and a four-lane circular road with the army’s help.

The Prime Minister’s office would coordinate the project, said Chowdhury.

“The prime minister ordered the implementation of these four tasks. The circular road will ease the movement of goods and people.”

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, LGRD Minister Ashraful Islam, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Civil Aviations Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, Forest and Environment Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain, Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif and state minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

The Cabinet secretary and the army chief were also present.