He said, "If investigation proves that a councilor has occupied a canal, the councillorship of that councilor will be canceled."

He came up with these remarks after inaugurating a newly excavated canal at the sluice gate area in Sector 11 of Uttara.

The canal was excavated following demolishment of illegal establishments around it.

Alos read: Banks of occupied canals to be cleared of illegal structures

Referring to RAJUK and other government agencies, the mayor said, "Change your mindset. You don't have to just allocate plots."

"Plots, even on canals are being allocated one after another, there is no dumping yard. We have to keep the canals unoccupied in order to let their normal flow continue," he added.

He also urged the government agencies to review the CS map, RS map and metropolitan survey because the suffering of people will not end if plots are allocated without any consideration. 

Alos read: 13 illegally occupied canals to be recovered: DNCC Mayor

Earlier, at 9.30 am, DNCC Mayor Mohammad Atiqul Islam inaugurated the clean-up drive at Mohammadpur Eidgah ground organized by BD Clean.  Some 1,800 volunteers of BD Clean cleared the garbage of Ward No. 31 of DNCC all day long.

Inaugurating the clean-up operation, he said it would not work if people continue to throw waste here and there and blame authorities. 

Atiqul Islam said, "We keep our house clean and throw the garbage outside. After opening the shop in the morning, all the garbage is thrown in the drain of the corporation.  You will throw the garbage outside, and BD clean will clean it,  it can't continue."

Also read: Legal action after Oct 20 if canals, waterbodies found dirty : DNCC mayor

On the occasion of Mujib year, the mayor announced that the DNCC would present a tree sapling with each birth certificate.

He said that if parents plant a tree in the name of every child, then there will be no shortage of oxygen in  Dhaka.