Thrust on maintaining civic duties to make Ctg city liveable

Cleanliness should become an everyday habit rather than remain confined to occasional campaigns, Chattogram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian said on Saturday, calling for maintaining civic responsibility to keep the city clean and liveable.

"A city cannot be transformed by one person or institution alone. Every citizen must take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean and liveable," he said.

The DC was speaking at a cleanliness drive at the Zia Memorial Complex in the city's Chandgaon area in the morning.

The programme was part of the district administration's ongoing cleanliness campaign, launched across Chattogram on July 25.

According to the DC, 6,220 government officials and employees joined the campaign on its first day, removing around 135 tonnes of waste from government office premises and rooftops.

Similar drives have since been carried out at Patenga sea beach, ponds and other locations across the district.

"We do not want this to remain a time-bound campaign. We want cleanliness to become a habit. Once that happens, people will keep their surroundings clean out of their own sense of responsibility," Zahidul said.

Clean-up drives were also held today at ponds in Chandgaon and Patiya and several other locations, he said, adding that the campaign would continue throughout the year.

The DC also said the administration plans to make the 16.38-acre Zia Memorial Complex cleaner and more visitor-friendly.
Popularly known as "Mini Bangladesh", the complex houses replicas of several landmarks, including the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, National Martyrs' Memorial, Central Shaheed Minar, Kantajew Temple, Curzon Hall and Ahsan Manzil.

"People who want to learn about Bangladesh's history and culture can come here and get an idea of many of the country's important landmarks," Zahidul said.

Several structures at the complex have been damaged in recent times, and the district administration has contacted the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs over their restoration, he said.

The ministry has assured the administration that the structures will be repaired through a tender process, he added.

In the meantime, the district administration is cleaning up the complex to make it safer and more welcoming to visitors.

"We want people to spend time here in a safe and pleasant environment and learn about the country's history and heritage. We also want the next generation to grow up in a healthy environment and become capable citizens," the DC said.

He said the administration was also working on other initiatives to improve public spaces in Chattogram, including plans to upgrade Patenga sea beach.

Chattogram-8 lawmaker Ershad Ullah welcomed the initiative and called for turning the cleanliness campaign into a social movement.
He said such initiatives should be expanded to schools, colleges and universities to encourage young people to take greater responsibility for their surroundings.

The programme was attended by the Chattogram divisional commissioner, deputy inspector general of Chattogram Range, Chattogram Metropolitan Police commissioner, senior government officials, law enforcers, public representatives, political and social leaders, journalists and people from different walks of life.