Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (LGRD) Minister and Chairman of the Master Plan Committee to free river, prevent pollution and increase navigability, Md Tajul Islam, on Sunday said the bridges around Dhaka which are creating obstacles in plying of water vessels will be demolished and new bridges will be built there.
Noting that 90 percent of the rivers around Dhaka have been freed from grabbing, he said there are still complications in some places due to construction of mosques, temples and religious institutions.
“Anyone illegally occupying rivers and canals will be evicted and (rivers) will be freed from grabbing,”
Tajul Islam was briefing reporters after a meeting of the master plan committee in the conference room of the local government department of the ministry.
The minister said the government has taken up the project aimed at connecting the capital’s identified canals with one another and there will be walkways on both sides and plying of water transport system for people.
On completion of the master plan, the minister said work has started and the ten-year long plan will be completed in the designated time frame.
Tajul Islam said many projects have been taken up by various ministries, departments or agencies for the development of the capital, including freeing the river from grabbing, preventing pollution and increasing navigability. As such a committee will be formed to check whether there is more than one project for the same work.
In this context, the minister said, there is no alternative to coordinating with all organisations by eliminating mismanagement in the projects.
To this end, a list of projects taken by the ministry, city corporations and other organisations have been sought. All the projects will be brought under the master plan.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation Selina Hayat Ivy, Mayor of Gazipur City Corporation Jahangir Alam, Senior Secretary to the Local Government Department, Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, Chairman, National River Commission, Chairman, BIWTA, among others were present at the meeting.
