Rizwana calls for stronger role of city corporation officials in building pollution-free city

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today (1 December) said city corporation officials must act with greater responsibility to improve urban waste management.

She said regular enforcement drives are essential to control plastic and polythene pollution.

Rizwana said awareness must be raised and strict monitoring should be ensured to stop the use of polythene in markets, shopping areas, and footpaths. 

She also emphasized that reducing single-use plastics requires a shift in public behavior.

The environment adviser made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of a basic training course for 9th-grade officers of the City Corporations, held at the National Institute of Local Government (NILG) in Agargaon here. 
She further said noise pollution poses serious health risks to urban residents. 

"Therefore, strict enforcement is needed to control hydraulic horns, loudspeakers, and noise generated from construction activities. 

"To reduce air pollution, the city corporations must play an active role in ensuring wet storage of construction materials, covered transportation, and shutting down illegal brick kilns," she said. 

The adviser hoped that the trained officers would take effective actions at the field level to improve waste management and control plastic, noise, and air pollution. 

She noted that there is no alternative to regular training for developing skilled urban management.

 Such training will enhance the efficiency of officials and improve urban service delivery, she added. 

NILG Director General Md Abdul Kaiyum; Abul Khair Mohammad Hafizullah Khan, Joint Secretary (Urban Development Wing) of the Local Government Division; and Md Kayesuzzaman, Director (Training and Consultancy) of NILG, also spoke at the event.