Norway to conduct campaign on cleanliness in Bangladesh

The Norwegian embassy in Dhaka has celebrated the global ‘Coastal Cleanup Day’ on Saturday as its Ambassador Sidsel Bleken vowed to work in tandem with the Bangladeshi authorities to keep the environment clean.

“My hope is that we reach a stage where we do not have to do the cleaning efforts; where we have awareness not to throw litter just anywhere and have a good garbage handling system,” she said, after an event near her residence along the Gulshan lake.

She said she witnesses "new garbage" piling up along the lake "every day".

The embassy cleaned up part of the lake with the support of the Gulshan Society and Dhaka North City Corporation. She thanked them for responding to their call to celebrate the day.

September 21 is observed globally as Coastal Cleanup Day, which is the world's largest volunteer day to protect the environment. Volunteers from all over the world do their part to clean local beaches, rivers, creeks and parks.

The ambassador said it is working together with Bangladeshi authorities on the common goal of cleaning up a part of Gulshan lake and its surrounding areas.

“We hope our cooperation will raise awareness among the city dwellers about the cleanliness of adjacent of water sources and surroundings,” she said.

All embassy staff have volunteered to clean a part of Banani lake and surroundings with the help of Dhaka North City Corporation and Gulshan Society.

She said Norway is also working with a number of organisations in Bangladesh on the disposal of plastic waste.

She said their programmes are about to start on raising awareness raising, working on government policy and also facility for recycling.

“This is not a one-day event. It is part of a general awareness and attitude and working on sustainable environment.”

Signboards were put up along the walkway informing passers-by not to throw garbage into the lake. A mango sapling was also planted.

Participants in the event also included Gulshan Society President Abu Sakhawat, Civic Utitlities Co-Convener Shayaan Seraj, Member Secretary Anis Zaman, Lake Management Convener Eva Rahman, and North City Corporation Waste Managers and Supervisors Anis, Benazir, among others.