Environment, Forest, Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said on Friday that the canals and rivers are national properties and no one has the right to occupy or pollute those illegally.
"We started a canal cleaning campaign in 64 districts as part of the ongoing effort to free the country's waterways from pollution, although the campaign will officially run until November 15 but efforts to keep these waterways clean will continue," the Adviser has said
"We are trying to form a local committee for each canal to prevent attempts to pollute it," she said while launch the canal cleaning drive across the country on Friday at the Tri-Mohini Eidgah ground in Rampura, Dhaka.
Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain officially inaugurated the canal cleaning drive at the Rampura-Zirani Canal marking the national youth day.
Environmental Adviser urged volunteers and youth to take on the national responsibility of keeping canals free from pollution.
She noted that it would be a gift of the today's youth to the future generations if they could be able to contribute to the society a pollution-free canals and rivers.
The event was presided over by the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Md Rezaul Maksud Jahidi. Other speakers included Nazmul Ahsan, Secretary of the Water Resources Ministry, and Dr Gazi Md Saifuzzaman, Director General of the Department of Youth Development. The programme concluded with an oath-taking ceremony for volunteers and youth workers, pledging to keep canals clean.
The Dhaka canal cleaning drive saw the participation of 700 volunteers from BD Clean and Nongor. Additionally, various youth organizations under the Department of Youth Development, along with local government bodies, administrative officials, city corporations, BIWTA, the Water Development Board, the Forest Department, the Fire Service, and the general public also participated.
