Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, April 2, 2026 (BSS) - Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) Administrator Advocate Mahfuz Un Nabi Chowdhury Don has emphasized the need for a long-term plan to develop Rangpur as an eco-friendly, green and livable city.
 
“If the city’s Shyamasundari Canal, KD Canal, Ichamati river, Kukrul Beel, Chikley Beel can be properly planned and renovated in a sustainable manner for the next hundred years, then only the city dwellers will get the desired benefits,” he said.
 
He said this while addressing the 'Student-Youth Environment Conference to Protect the Nature and Environment of the Teesta, Shyamasundari Canal and Rangpur Division' held at the city's Town Hall auditorium as the chief guest this afternoon. 
 
The Rangpur divisional unit of environmental youth organization Green Voice organised the divisional level event with the slogan “Youth will fight and build a green world.” 
 
Presided over by Rangpur divisional convener Md Rabiul Islam Rubel, Chief Coordinator of Green Voice Alamgir Kabir delivered the welcome speech at the conference.
 
Riverine People Director Professor Dr Tuhin Wadud, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi Rangpur President Shwasswato Bhattacharya, District Convener of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon Advocate Shamima Akhter Shirin and Member-secretary Rashidus Sultan Bablu, Rangpur and Rajshahi Divisional Coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association Tanmoy Sanyal, among others, addressed the conference. 
 
He said that today's youth are the citizens of the future. The more they are aware of the environment, the better the environment they will enjoy in the future. 
 
“The movement that Green Voice is carrying out with the youth on the issue of environment will one day give us a clean environment,” he said. 
 
The RpCC Administrator said that the biggest obstacle to the development of any institution or area is corruption. 
 
“Therefore, today's youth must be vocal against corruption and develop themselves as corruption-free citizens,” he said, and sought the cooperation of those who work with the environment in building an environment-friendly green Rangpur city. 
 
Chief Coordinator of Green Voice Alamgir Kabir said that the role of today's students is very necessary to build a livable and environmentally friendly country in the future. 
 
“We believe that one day a livable and environmentally friendly country will be built through the hands of these young, young students,” Alamgir Kabir hoped. 
 
The other speakers said that Rangpur division is currently facing a multidimensional environmental crisis due to the effects of climate change, drought, floods, river erosion, water-logging and unplanned urbanisation. 
 
They called for the expansion of tree plantations of native species to preserve biodiversity, control the use of plastic, and ensure environmentally friendly waste management. 
 
More than 500 representatives from 40 units of Green Voice and about 600 people from various organizations, and interested groups of Rangpur division participated in the conference.