Dhaka South to dredge Buriganga channel to restore navigability: Administrator

Dhaka South City Corporation will undertake channel dredging in the Buriganga River during the next dry season to restore its navigability, Administrator Md Abdus Salam said today (9 August).

He also urged citizens not to discard polythene or waste into drains and rivers, stressing the need to keep the city clean and protect its waterways.

Salam made the remarks while inaugurating a tree-planting programme in Kamrangirchar under the “Tree Scholarship and Green City” initiative organised by the city corporation and Plant Scholar. The programme aims to plant 10,000 trees.

The event was held near the Buriganga River and Boro Gram Battery Ghat Road in Ward 56. Dhaka Central University Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Nurul Islam chaired the event, while Dhaka-7 MP Hamidur Rahman Hamid attended as a special guest.

Salam said planting trees alone would not be enough to protect the environment. Rivers, canals, drains and roads must also be kept clean, while a broader social movement for environmental protection should be built.

He urged everyone to join the effort to create a safer environment for future generations.

He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had been encouraging increased tree plantation even before taking office. The government has set a target of planting 25 crore trees across the country over the next five years, he added.

Referring to the Sundarbans’ role in protecting coastal areas from cyclones and other disasters, Salam said large-scale tree plantation across the country would also help maintain environmental balance.

He urged teachers, students and political leaders to plant at least one tree each from their respective positions.

On infrastructure development in Kamrangirchar, Salam said construction of an eight-lane road was underway to facilitate vehicles from 21 southern districts entering Dhaka through the Padma Bridge.

The project has received an allocation of Tk236.48 crore in the current fiscal year. Around 48% of the work has already been completed, and the project is expected to be completed by June 2027.

Speakers at the event also urged people to play responsible roles in tree plantation, river protection, cleanliness drives and dengue prevention.