Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam on Saturday said modern septic tanks and soak wells should be installed in city homes and effective purification systems should be kept in place. In addition, 10 per cent holding tax rebate will be given to the owners of the buildings which will have rainwater harvesting system.
The mayor said this on Saturday at a seminar on “50 years of achievement and future in the water Supply, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) Sector” at Sonargaon Hotel to mark the centenary of Bangabandhu’s birth and Bangladesh’s golden jubilee.
Atiqul Islam said that most of the houses in the city and even the buildings in elite areas do not have effective septic tanks and soak wells and the overall environment including water is being polluted due to untreated sewage water directly falling into drains or canals.
Meanwhile, attending the seminar as chief guest, LGRD Minister Tazul Islam has urge local public representatives to be alert and stand strong against those who would seek to destroy communal harmony.
“I am making a call to all public representatives at the city corporation, municipal, upazila parishad, district parishad and union parishad level, and all other institutions – be ready,” he said at an event in Dhaka on Saturday.
“We must stand against communal forces. Bangladesh will not bow to them.”
Noting that 98 per cent of the people in the country and 70 per cent of the slum dwellers have access to drinkable water, the minister said that unprecedented success has been achieved in the water supply, sanitation and hygiene sectors.
The minister also said that the government is working on a plan keeping in view the targets of SDG-2030 and 2041.
He added that preliminary work has been started on the National Water Grid Line to meet the future water demand of the country. There are also plans for a trans-boundary water grid line.
Tajul Islam said the canals have been handed over from WASA to City Corporations to make Dhaka a modern, attractive and livable city. Numerous canals have already been rescued from the hands of the occupiers. It is possible to bring change in Dhaka through two city mayors.
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, and Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam were present as special guests, in where Senior Secretary of Local Government Department Helal Uddin Ahmed presided over the seminar.
