Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has said that city corporation officials must act with greater responsibility to improve urban waste management. She stated that regular enforcement drives are essential to control plastic and polythene pollution. Awareness must be raised and strict monitoring 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 behaviour.

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 today at the National Institute of Local Government (NILG) in Agargaon, Dhaka.

She further said that 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.

The Adviser expressed hope that the trained officers will 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, she said, will enhance the efficiency of officials and improve urban service delivery.

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.