Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Saturday that marshlands must not be filled to construct buildings.
“There is a tendency to set up buildings by filling up marshlands. Dhaka city was once full of canals and ponds, with cool and refreshing air. Almost all the ponds have now been filled up one by one,” the prime minister said during the inauguration of four development projects, including the Bangabazar wholesale market.
Inaugurating the modernisation project of Shahbagh Shishu Park, the prime minister instructed the councillors to be vigilant to ensure the park does not become a gathering place for drug users.
Addressing city dwellers regarding Eid-ul-Adha, the prime minister urged them not to offer sacrificial animals outside designated areas.
She also called on the city corporations to develop a more sophisticated system for Qurbani in the future to maintain the city's cleanliness.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated four development projects, including the construction of a 10-storey wholesale market on the site of the previously burnt Bangabazar market, and Shahbag’s Shishu Park.
The new Bangabazar Wholesale Market features five common stairways, six fire exits, and an advanced fire-fighting system. Each commercial block has separate entrances and exits, electrical mechanical rooms, and four toilets per floor. The ground floor includes parking facilities for 169 cars and 109 motorcycles.
Additionally, the Prime Minister inaugurated the construction of the 5km long eight-lane Fazlul Haque Mani Sarni, connecting Postgola Bridge to Rayerbazar Sluicegate. This project, with a budget of Tk 974.58 crore, includes the construction of a 10 km drain, a 10 km pedestrian footpath, three vehicular overpasses, three pedestrian overbridges, 2km of retaining walls, three mosques, six bus bays, and six passenger shelters. The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Dhaka by reducing the pressure of buses, trucks, and cargo vehicles.
In Dhanmondi Lake, Dhaka South City Corporation is constructing Nazrul Sarovar at a cost of about Tk51 crore from its own funds. Prime Minister Hasina also inaugurated this project.
Moreover, the modernisation of Suhrawardy Shishu Park at Shahbagh was launched. The modernisation, costing approximately Tk604 crore, will introduce 15 new types of rides, including Mega Disc, Super Air Race, Flying Carousel, Galleon, 12D Theater, Mine Coaster, Climbing Car, Super Happy Swing, and Water Mania, enhancing the park's previous 11 rides since its establishment in 1979.
