Who will clean our city? Do I know my responsibility?
Rabindra Sri Barua
Additional Secretary | Seasoned Civil Servant | Expert in Policy Formulation, Local Governance & Community Engagement | Advocate for Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Resilience & Youth Empowerment | Ex DG, Radio BD
Last April 27, 2024, I shared an article titled "Cleanliness of Dhaka city and some of our vices" on LinkedIn profile.
I tried to present a topic there. Due to some of our eccentric behavior we are constantly polluting the Dhaka city. All the garbage or unused household items which are not suitable to be thrown into the canal or drain, we secretly throw them into the canal or drain.
The concern is that canals and drains are constantly filling up due to our unhealthy attitude and behavior, water retention and flow capacity is gradually decreasing. As a result, our drains are overflowing with even a little rain and causing waterlogging in most of the parts of Dhaka city.
When waterlogging occurs in Dhaka city due to filling of drains and canals, unfortunately we put all the blame and responsibilities on the shoulder of city corporation. It seems like that city dwellers have no responsibility and all the responsibility lies with the city corporation.
Yesterday I noticed a news in most of the print, electronic and online media of Bangladesh. While cleaning the canals, Dhaka North City Corporation recovered huge items including broken rickshaws, broken televisions, broken bed couches, torn mattress covers, broken chairs and tables in different canals. How would you define or indicate this sort of unmannered activities? This is quite unacceptable and disgraceful work.
Honorable Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, Mr. Md. Atiqul Islam has organized an exhibition with various items of huge size recovered during canal cleaning. Its purpose is to make people aware. We appreciate DNCC for arranging this exhibition. Young students from different educational institutions visited this exhibition.? They took-away a clear understanding of how we are filling up water reservoirs and polluting the environment.? The good thing is, the students have become self-aware and will be able to make others aware in future.? This awareness is a kind of investment on behalf of Dhaka North City?Corporation.
A few years back, the same mayor organized a similar exhibition to create public awareness. But yesterday's news did not seem that people have become aware. Why people are not aware even after so many initiatives-this can be an element of social research. Psychologists and sociologists could make a great study here.
But our awareness and campaign style seem to be changed or customized. There is no change in the habits and psychology of our people through very traditional engagement and awareness. Enforcement is also felt to be necessary in some cases.
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I am personally a very optimistic person. We urge all stakeholders to harness the benefit and impact of this exhibition focusing on Clean City. This exhibition showed us how low our concept of a clean city is. We will feel proud if this garbage exhibition be the last one. Let's make my neighbor aware of the position we are in, also make my housemates aware.
Our educational institutions can give students practical idea on social cleanliness. College and university students can act as ambassadors for public awareness. Daily discussions in our religious institutions can make us a little aware of our responsibility towards the cleanliness of city. Because the comments and statements of religious leaders greatly reflect our mood. Local social organizations and political and social leaders can play a great role in educating and motivating the public.
I strongly believe that if we proactively engage ourselves for mass awareness then the social cleanliness drive will be more accelerated. Let’s build a clean city for our next generation.
?Some headlines related to garbage exhibition by DNCC
DNCC launches 'Waste Exhibition' in city's Gulshan https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/dncc-launches-waste-exhibition-in-gulshan
From mattresses to commodes: What Dhaka residents dump into canals, drains?https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/89390bfba72c
?Some youtube channel links on garbage exhibition by DNCC