United News of Bangladesh

Road Transport Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Tuesday said a policy on the battery-run rickshaws is being formulated and under that policy their movement on major roads and in important areas will have to be controlled. “We do not want to cause harm to anyone, but Dhaka city cannot be allowed to become dysfunctional for the interests of any particular group. That is the main point,” Rabiul said. The minister made the remarks after inaugurating the re-excavation work of Dhanmondi Lake in the capital in the morning. Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam was present on the occasion. Rabiul said the vehicles are seriously disrupting the functioning of Dhaka and the government is concerned over it. Acknowledging that many people have been engaged in the profession for a long time and could face difficulties under the proposed restrictions, he said collective agreement is necessary to overcome the existing mismanagement. “If auto-rickshaws operate anywhere and everywhere in an uncontrolled manner in Dhaka, the city does not function,” he said. Responding to a question about Jamaat leader Golam Parwar's statements on battery-run auto-rickshaws, Rabiul said it is the opposition’s failure to understand citizens’ rights and the needs of Dhaka. “Such are their demands. They have always been unable to understand what should be said, what constitutes citizens’ rights, what is about protecting Dhaka and what is a genuine demand of citizens. That is why they have been the opposition since their birth as a political party, let alone being in government,” he said. He said Jamaat-e-Islami got the opportunity to become the main opposition party for the first time at the age of 85, questioning why the party has failed to understand public expectations over the years. “They never wanted to understand what people wanted. They neither understand during the Liberation War, nor after independence. They also failed to understand whom to support during the Ershad era and did not consider that government authoritarian. They failed to understand even after the one-eleven government. They understood somewhat in 2024, but lost the thread again. This is their political judgment,” he said. He said Dhanmondi Lake would be equipped with modern facilities after completion of its renovation and urged citizens to remain aware of the need to keep the lake and the city clean. “Modern facilities will be developed at the lake. All the facilities, including greenery, that a modern lake should have will be here,” he said. Rabiul said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had approved two projects to fulfil the government’s commitments to improving the environment in Dhanmondi area. Asked about the project’s duration and budget, he said the two lake-centred projects, worth around Tk 83 crore, would take about two and a half years to complete. The work includes dredging, excavation, sludge removal and necessary infrastructure development. Some structures would also have to be newly built, including facilities around Nazrul Mancha which is currently abandoned. “There are some infrastructure facilities and lighting there. One task has to be completed before another because all the work cannot be done simultaneously,” he said. He said regular maintenance would be essential to preserve the lake’s greenery, facilities and pleasant environment, calling on citizens not to dump garbage or waste into the water. “Citizen awareness is very important. We should not throw garbage or waste into the lake. Those who come to the lake should remain alert and conscious so that we can preserve this pleasant environment,” he said. The minister called upon citizens to work together to keep Dhaka clean, usable and pleasant and to ensure that the lake’s facilities and beauty remain sustainable. Referring to waterlogging as a major problem in Dhaka during the monsoon, Rabiul said a separate Tk 350 crore project has been undertaken. The project aims to address waterlogging across a large part of Dhaka South, covering Dhanmondi, the low-lying areas of Hazaribagh and Chawkbazar, the area extending from Shikdar Medical College towards the embankment, and Kalabagan. “We are continuously working and taking up these projects to improve citizens’ quality of life and resolve the obstacles that are affecting it. Once these projects are implemented, Dhaka residents will certainly get a new Dhaka,” he said.