Dhaka cannot be saved without freeing canals, rivers from encroachment: Fakhrul

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that Dhaka cannot be protected unless its rivers and canals are freed from encroachment and pollution, calling for a coordinated national effort to tackle the capital's mounting environmental and waste management challenges.

He made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled "Urban Waste Management: A Shared Responsibility" at the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) headquarters on Wednesday (July 15).

Fakhrul said building a clean, liveable and sustainable Dhaka requires collective responsibility beyond political affiliations, urging citizens, public agencies and local authorities to work together for lasting solutions.

Recalling the past condition of the Buriganga and Turag rivers, he said both once had clean water but have now become heavily polluted. He also warned that groundwater levels have dropped alarmingly, forcing the government to implement a project to bring 500 million litres of water daily from the Meghna River.

However, he stressed that such initiatives alone would not solve the crisis unless the Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakkhya and the city's natural canals are reclaimed from illegal occupation and pollution. He also underscored the need for stronger management of medical waste.

The adviser noted that Dhaka remains among the world's least liveable cities, saying no single institution can reverse the situation alone. He pointed to poor coordination among city corporations, RAJUK, WASA and utility agencies, blaming it for recurring road excavations and public suffering, particularly during the monsoon.

He further called for a stronger and more integrated governance framework for city management.

Drawing on his experience as a former mayor of Thakurgaon Municipality, Fakhrul said enforcement alone would not be enough to bring lasting change. Just as AI-based monitoring has improved traffic discipline in parts of the capital, he said, citizens must also become more responsible in waste disposal and environmental protection.

Concluding his remarks, he said the time for seminars alone has passed, stressing that fostering a civic mindset—"I will keep my city clean"—is now the key to transforming Dhaka.