Bangladeş Prime Minister Instructed to Clean the Lakes in the Capital Dhaka

Bangladeş Prime Minister Tarique Rahman instructed to take comprehensive measures to clean the Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara lakes, which are among the important water sources of the capital Dhaka, from pollutants. Relevant institutions were tasked with ensuring the environmental protection of these lakes, preventing water pollution, and implementing integrated waste management. In a meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office, it was aimed to inspect the sewage systems of the buildings in the area and to clean the lakes from pollution. This step is considered a critical step taken to protect the city's ecosystem and improve water quality. Preventing environmental pollution continues to be a vital issue frequently emphasized in the country in recent years.

The meeting was held on Monday at the Prime Minister's Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat building to assess the current state of the lakes. During the meeting, the inspection of the sewage connection systems of buildings in the Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan areas came to the agenda. Hasan Shiplu, Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, stated that the Prime Minister emphasized the need for all institutions to work in coordination regarding environmental protection and waste disposal. A message was given that relevant ministries, municipalities, and responsible institutions must act together. Through this, it is aimed to permanently control water pollution and raise environmental standards.

Officials submitted to the Prime Minister that short, medium, and long-term plans have been prepared to save the lakes from pollution. As an important part of these plans, efforts to identify buildings that discharge wastewater directly into the lakes will accelerate. It is planned to take urgent and effective measures to stop the sewage discharges of these identified buildings. In addition, increasing the environmental awareness of residents and businesses around the lake is evaluated within this scope. It was explicitly stated that the goal is not only to eliminate current pollution but also to prevent potential pollution in the future.

During the meeting, the issue of establishing Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) to protect the ecological balance of the lakes was also discussed in detail. Officials exchanged views on the need for regular cleaning of interconnected canals and lakes, the removal of accumulated waste from the area, and the assurance of normal water flow rate. It was agreed that if water flow is obstructed, pollution will increase further and the ecosystem will be harmed. Therefore, it was concluded that infrastructure investments and technical solutions must be used together. The treatment plants to be established are expected to significantly improve the water quality in the area.

Additionally, action plans were discussed at the meeting to prevent waste flowing directly into the lakes from Korail, one of the largest slum areas in the region. It was emphasized that waste management in such areas with dense populations and inadequate infrastructure threatens the city's water resources. High-level officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Local Governments, and Dhaka North and South City Corporations attended the meeting to effectively pursue environmental protection steps. The joint efforts and determination of these institutions will play a critical role for the future of the capital Dhaka's water resources. It is aimed that such environmental interventions will lay the foundation for a healthier and more livable future in urban planning.