Mayor Atiqul Islam of Dhaka North City Corporation said following the suggestion of Chief Heat Officer (CHO) Bushra Afreen, efforts are underway to address the heatwave.
"The heat officer is an advisory role. She provides guidance, but the actual implementation of works involves all of us. We are undertaking these measures based on her advice to provide relief to the people," said Atiqul Islam while inspecting the city corporation’s water spray programme in Agargaon, Dhaka, aimed at preventing air pollution and keeping the city cool during intense heat.
Responding to queries regarding the appointment of Chief Heat Officer Bushra Afrin, the mayor said, "I've noticed that many people believe she receives a salary from the city corporation, which is incorrect. She does not receive any compensation from the city corporation, nor does she hold any official position within it.
Heat officers were appointed by an organisation based in the United States, the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center (Arsht-Rock). They have appointed seven chief heat officers globally, all of whom are women.
Earlier, Atiqul Islam visited a special van designated for the supply of clean drinking water and personally sampled the water at Syed Mahbub Morshed Road in Agargaon at 11:30am. Subsequently, when artificial rain began falling through the spray cannon, he joined the enthusiastic children and teenagers, sharing their joy.
Atiqul Islam further said, "Based on the advice of Chief Heat Officer (CHO) Bushra Afrin, we have initiated efforts such as sprinkling water on roads and providing free drinking water to the 54 wards of Dhaka to alleviate the effects of the ongoing intense heat."
He mentioned that three special vans with 500-liter water tanks have been deployed in each ward to provide water to pedestrians. These vans are designed to navigate the narrow alleys of the city for the convenience of pedestrians and workers.
During his address, the mayor made three requests to city dwellers: urging shopkeepers, traders, and association leaders of the DNCC area to arrange water drums in front of every shop, shopping mall, and market; emphasising the importance of caring for roadside plants and those planted in front of buildings; and highlighting the city corporation's initiative to plant 800,000 trees last year, with plans to plant an additional 1,200,000 trees this year.
The mayor also urged people to maintain cleanliness in their homes, offices, educational institutions, and surroundings to prevent the growth of Aedes larvae.
Present at the event were DNCC Chief Executive Officer Mir Khairul Alam, Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, Chief Waste Management Officer Captain Mohammad Fida Hasan, Ward Councilor Md. Forkan Hossain, reserved councilor Hamida Akhter (Mita), and others.
