Photo : Collected

DHAKA, May 15, 2025 (BSS) - Administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mohammad Ejaz has announced that a large-scale development and tree plantation campaign will begin on June 1 across the capital, focusing on canals, lakes, open spaces, and playgrounds.

"A comprehensive landscape architecture plan has already been completed for the capital city. Trees will be planted along canals and lakes following the advice of botanists," he said at a knowledge-sharing session titled "Save the Canals, Save the City - Promoting Best Practices in Plastic Waste Management," held at the DNCC Nagar Bhaban today.

The DNCC administrator added, "Earlier, over Tk 100 crore was spent on canal excavation with little visible impact. Now, we are cleaning 100 kilometers of canals at a cost of less than Tk 10 crore."

He further noted that a total of 33 canals across Dhaka have already been assigned to volunteers for preservation and greening. "We are appointing one gardener for every kilometre of canal bank to maintain the plants and trees," he said.

During the session, experiences from a pilot project under the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) initiative-implemented in the Kalyanpur canal area-were shared.

Ejaz stated, "If the floating waste collected through this project could be properly categorized, it could be traced back to producers, helping ensure compliance with future waste management standards."

DNCC Chief Engineer Brigadier General Md. Moin Uddin said, "Although Dhaka has a 1,200-kilometer drainage system, the actual canal flow is only 86 kilometers."

He attributed urban waterlogging to plastic waste and garbage dumped into drains.

Dr. Shibli Sadiq, Senior Adviser at the Netherlands Embassy, emphasized the importance of collective action in environmental governance. "Government, citizens, civil society, knowledge institutions, and the private sector must work together," he said, describing the project as a good example of such collaboration.

DNCC Chief Executive Officer Abu Sayeed Md. Kamruzzaman warned about the dangers of microplastics from powdered packaging materials. "Everyone must remain vigilant to ensure such materials do not end up in canals or water bodies. Only by working together can we find sustainable solutions," he said.