Tarique Vows to Make Dhaka as Clean as Tokyo

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said his government aims to make Dhaka as clean as Tokyo, stressing that a cleaner environment, improved waste management and reduced air pollution are essential to protecting public health.

“If we can make Dhaka as clean as Tokyo, as clean as Japan, that will be a major achievement,” he said during an exchange of views with Bangladeshi expatriates at Hotel New Otani in Tokyo. The programme was organised by Bangladesh Community, Japan.

The Prime Minister said he had asked a member of his delegation about Tokyo, who replied that they had not seen any rubbish on the streets. In contrast, waste remains scattered in many parts of Dhaka, he said.

Tarique said the government was working to make Dhaka and other parts of the country cleaner, noting that air pollution in the capital was a recurring concern.

He said the government wanted to improve air quality, filter polluted air where possible and plant trees in different areas.

“People will gradually fall sick if rubbish and waste keep accumulating everywhere. Germs and diseases can spread from accumulated waste. If we want to keep people healthy, we have to clean the environment and remove waste properly,” he said.

Describing cleaner cities and a healthier environment as major reform priorities, Tarique said such initiatives could directly improve people's lives.

“What better reform can there be than ensuring that people can walk freely without being obstructed by waste, that they do not fall sick because of rubbish and that the country’s air is not polluted?” he said.

He added that measures to protect the health of children, women and other citizens were among the most important reforms his government wanted to pursue.

In response to questions from expatriates, the Prime Minister also outlined plans relating to Japanese-language education, healthcare, children's development through sports and other activities, business procedures, closed industries, investment and employment.

‘Attempts are being made to obstruct government reforms’

The Prime Minister alleged that efforts were being made to create circumstances that would prevent the BNP government from implementing reforms intended to benefit people at the grassroots level.

Addressing Bangladeshis attending the programme in person and watching online, he said the proposed reforms would benefit them and their children if the government could implement them.

“Those who are trying to obstruct the government’s work — whom will you support? I am not asking you to vote. If you think we are trying to do the right things, at least support these initiatives so that we can implement them,” Tarique said.

His remarks were met with loud applause from the expatriates.

The Prime Minister also criticised what he described as mockery and ridicule on social media directed at Md Tarek Rahman, general secretary of the Am Janata Dal, who was accompanying the delegation. He said insufficient attention was being paid to many of the country’s real problems.

Tarique said the reforms he wanted to introduce in education, healthcare and the environment were intended to benefit people across society, including rickshaw pullers, CNG-powered auto-rickshaw drivers, doctors, lawyers, employees, businesspeople and teachers.

He clarified that he was not suggesting other proposed reforms would bring no benefits to the country or its people. However, he argued that some reforms might benefit only a limited number of people, while his priority was to ensure that ordinary and working people benefited directly.

“As a politician, I understand reform to mean changes whose benefits reach people at the grassroots level. There are different kinds of reform — some may benefit people in air-conditioned rooms, while others can make life better for working people,” he said.

Tarique said improving the lives of working people was a priority because the government had sought public support through elections.

He called for cooperation from expatriates and democratic-minded people across Bangladesh to help build the country they aspired to.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of hard work, patience, unity and collective effort, seeking the support and prayers of expatriate Bangladeshis.

The programme was moderated by BNP Executive Committee member Abdus Sattar Patwary.

Prime Minister’s wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Civil Aviation Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Ashik Chowdhury and other members of the delegation were present.

Japan BNP presented the Prime Minister and Dr Zubaida Rahman with photographs as gifts at the programme.