Prime Minister sets 48-hour deadline for nationwide waste removal and dengue prevention

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Prime Minister Tareque Rahman has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Dhaka’s two city corporations to clear sacrificial animal waste, restore drainage systems, and implement urgent dengue prevention measures. Failure to meet these requirements within the deadline will result in the immediate removal of responsible officials and severe disciplinary action.

The directive was confirmed by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam. The mandate followed an unannounced, four-hour inspection conducted by the Prime Minister himself on Friday afternoon. Driving through various parts of the capital, the Prime Minister surveyed key locations including Hatirpool, Elephant Road, Green Road, Farmgate, and Karwan Bazar.

During the excursion, accompanied by State Minister Alam, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md. Abdus Salam, and other senior officials, the Prime Minister expressed deep dissatisfaction upon witnessing substantial accumulations of animal waste and neglected refuse littering the streets. Observing what he termed extreme negligence in waste management, he initiated immediate administrative repercussions.

As a direct consequence of the inspection, Md. Sadekur Rahman, Regional Executive Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation’s Zone-5, and Kazi Saleh Mustanzir, Regional Executive Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation’s Zone-1, have been withdrawn from their posts and placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Administration. Both officials now face formal disciplinary proceedings.

State Minister Alam noted that the inspection caught many by surprise, as the Prime Minister had requested their presence at his residence without disclosing his itinerary, only to take the wheel himself to personally assess the city’s sanitary conditions. Following the tour, strict instructions were issued to the chief executive officers, waste management leads, and health officials of both city corporations to ensure all waste is cleared and drainage routes are operational by the close of the weekend.

The Prime Minister emphasized that no further delays will be tolerated, particularly in light of the impending monsoon season and the associated public health risks. He made it clear that if tangible improvements are not achieved within the 48-hour window, further high-ranking officials will face stringent punitive measures.