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The government is considering a plan to construct an eight-lane road around Dhaka to improve connectivity and address the capital’s environmental and waterlogging problems, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said on Friday (August 21).
He made the remarks while participating in a canal-cleaning drive in Kamrangirchar, jointly organised by the Dhaka District Administration and BD Clean.
According to the state minister, freeing the rivers and canals surrounding the capital from encroachment and restoring them in a planned manner could improve both waterway and road connectivity.
He said the proposal for an eight-lane road around Dhaka is currently under discussion at various levels of the government.
Mir Shahe Alam stressed that protecting the capital’s rivers and canals is essential to improving the urban environment, reducing waterlogging and developing a better transport network.
He also called for coordinated efforts by government agencies and citizens to protect rivers, canals and other water bodies, saying environmental protection cannot be ensured through government initiatives alone.
The state minister urged people to rise above political differences and participate in public welfare activities, including maintaining clean waterways and public spaces.
He said canal- and river-cleaning efforts should be turned into a sustained social movement, which would help reduce waterlogging, protect the environment and make Dhaka more liveable.