Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today gave Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital seven days to improve its cleanliness and overall management, urging students and youths to actively join dengue prevention efforts by keeping their homes, educational institutions and surrounding areas clean.
 
The Prime Minister made the call during a surprise visit to Rajuk Uttara Model College in the capital after inspecting the hospital to review its healthcare services and cleanliness, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
 
During his visit to the hospital in the morning, Tarique Rahman spoke to patients about their treatment and inspected different departments, including the intensive care unit (ICU) and operation theatres.
 
Expressing dissatisfaction with the hospital’s overall management and cleanliness, he gave the authorities seven days to improve the situation.
 
After visiting the hospital, the Prime Minister went to Rajuk Uttara Model College, where he spoke to teachers, students and members of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) and Scouts about cleanliness and their role in preventing dengue.
 
He said dengue infections tend to rise during this time of the year, particularly through November, causing illness and deaths every year. Prevention through cleanliness is the most effective way to combat the disease.
 
“The best way to fight dengue is through prevention. For that, we must keep our surroundings clean. I need your help in this effort,” he told the students.
 
Tarique Rahman said the country’s large youth population could bring about significant changes in dengue prevention and environmental protection if young people took responsibility for keeping their surrounding areas clean.
 
Referring to the challenges of maintaining cleanliness in Dhaka, the Prime Minister said the capital was a vast city with a population of more than two crores. Although city corporation cleaners worked regularly, their capacity was limited, making public participation essential.
 
“You may or may not be members of Scouts, Girl Guides or the Red Crescent, but you are all citizens of this country. You are the future of the country. So, you also have to take responsibility for keeping your homes, schools, neighbourhoods and surrounding areas clean,” he said.
 
Emphasising the need to discourage indiscriminate littering, the Prime Minister urged students to raise awareness among people who dumped waste outside designated areas, saying collective efforts could help keep Dhaka clean.
 
He said initiatives had been taken to install dustbins at different locations in the city, but many were being stolen. Saplings planted by the Dhaka North and South city corporations were also being stolen, he said and called for greater public awareness and responsibility to prevent such incidents.
 
The Prime Minister also advised students to plant at least one tree every year on their own birthdays and those of their family members as part of efforts to protect the environment.
 
“Try to plant a tree on your birthday, your siblings’ birthdays or your grandparents’ birthdays. It can be at your home, school or village home. As the trees grow, you will grow too,” he said.
 
Speaking about rising temperatures and the decline in greenery in the capital, Tarique Rahman recalled that Dhaka once had more trees and open spaces, many of which had been replaced by multi-storied buildings.
 
As greenery declined, he said, the city had become hotter.
 
“The more trees we have, the more freely we will be able to breathe. I really like the gentle rustling of leaves. If we all plant trees together, we can also reduce the city’s temperature to some extent,” he said.
 
The Prime Minister said young people needed to play an active role in dengue prevention, cleanliness and greening the environment, adding that public awareness and collective efforts were essential to building a clean and livable city.
 
He asked the students whether they would help keep their schools, homes, neighbourhoods and surrounding areas clean, drawing a positive response from them.

--BSS