Photo: Daily Messenger
The lifeline of the Rangpur metropolis Shyama Sundari Canal has finally started the cleaning operation to save a monument of 133 years of heritage with the help of an organization named BD Clean.
Under the initiative of City Corporation, 1,000 volunteers from the volunteer organization BD Clean from all over the country participated in this program. A 5 km area of the canal was cleaned by working throughout the day. And they want to see the strict action of the city corporation so that garbage is not dumped.
City Mayor Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa inaugurated the cleaning program at the check post of the city on Saturday (11 May) at 11 am. Earlier, apart from City Mayor Mostafa, Divisional Commissioner Zakir Hossain, Range DIG Moha Abdul Baten, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman and other senior administration officials were present at the stadium.
When Shyamasundari, the mother of Raja Janki Vallabh Sen of Dimla, died of malaria, in 1890, in the name of her mother, Bukchire of Rangpur city dug this canal of about 16 km from Ghaghat river to Ghoksa Ghaghat. The purpose was to get rid of mosquitoes. But after 133 years, the canal has now turned into a garbage dump. This canal has become the main problem of city dwellers due to encroachment and pollution.
Therefore, the city corporation took the initiative to dig and clean the canal. As a part of this, BD Clean has started this cleaning program. Not just possession, as much as there is a canal. That's how dirt is made. Everything from excrement to dirt is in Shyamasundari. BD Clean says the type of dirt in this canal is different from all their past mega cleanups. The 5 km section of the canal from Check Post to Shapla was divided into 21 groups and started the cleaning operation. 1000 volunteers from all over the country participated in BD Clean. Child volunteers also came. Logistics and medical support is provided by the City Corporation.
Tangail district coordinator of BD Clean, Imran Rahman Anim, who took part in the cleaning process, said that the dirt in Shyamasundari is not one days dirt, but a long days dirt. That's why Shyama Sundari has now turned ugly. We got all kinds of dirt here. All kinds of dirt starting from gravel.
Along with the drain is dirty. Sheikh Muhammad Mushfiqur Alam, a volunteer of Gazipur Sadar Zone of BD Clean who received the other part, said, especially Shyama Sundari filled with plastic bottles and polythene from different companies. Packet of chips. One-time glass, dish. Various types of dirt have been found ranging from market dirt, chicken skin, cow skin, and wearable cloth.
Mirza Mohammad Masud Rana, coordinator with Tangail district of BD Clean, who participated in the cleaning, said that all the dirt in the slaughterhouse is in Shyama Sundari. All the dirt of the house including faeces is here. As many megaevents as we are doing. The difference here is that animal waste is more here. Which was not the same anywhere else.
BD Clean Gaibandha volunteer Naima Sultana Shifa said Shyama Sundari is a beautiful name. But it has become ugly due to people's unconsciousness. Water flow has stopped due to garbage. We are here to restore Shyama Sundari's previous form. What I saw when I came to clean it. That is the unconsciousness of the people of Rangpur. Everyone knows that polythene is harmful to the environment. But the brown canal is filled with polythene. We are getting polythene till we dig the ground. We are all students. I am glad to join this work here. We want livable Rangpur after all livable Bangladesh.
Children also participated in the cleaning work. Ryan, a volunteer from the Rangpurs Kamalkachna area, said that the Shyamasundari canal was built many years ago. It has become very dirty because of people. Thats why its clear. And no one should litter here. Then our work will be successful.
Sifat, a child from Munsipara who participated, said - I have left sports. To clean Rangpur. So the name of Rangpur is well known in other district upazilas. Shyama Sundari dug a hole for water to flow. And people have polluted the whole place by throwing dirt there. Now the water flow has stopped. That's why I cleaned it. And let no one litter it.
Rangpur City Corporations waste officer Mizanur Rahman Mizu said that the volunteers of BD Clean provided various cleaning materials including spade, cut spade, hasua, da kachi, gum boot, globes, kerosene, oil. Dr. Rangpur City Corporation Health Department chief physician. Kamruzzaman Ibn Tajjanan, 2 Medical Officers, 2 Para Medical Officers, 2 Porter Men from City Corporation, 2 Medical Officers from Civil Surgeon Office and 2 Deputy Assistant Community Medical Officers led by 1 permanent and 2 mobile teams of canals. Crows on both sides. At the 21 points where the problem occurs, we go there and give the primary treatment. Among them, those who are serious have been admitted to the hospital. A team has also worked there to provide quick treatment. Among them, two named Ariful and Anir Ban are admitted in BD Cleans voluntary hospital.
The common people of the city are happy with this initiative. They demand to make sure that garbage is not dumped to keep the initiative effective. BD Clean also says it is only profitable if cleanliness is sustainable.
BD Clean chief coordinator Zahirul Islam Ravi said, we are basically organized through Facebook. We are working to protect the environment. We do a lot of work. Cleaning canals, turning garbage into gardens. Publish a clean picture of that place on Facebook after cleaning the dirt. We have done all this for citizen awareness. In this continuation, we have cleaned several canals. I also cleaned Shyamasundari. We have 1000 members from all over the country.
Working between 10 am and 4 pm we cleaned 5 km of Shyamasundari. Our message is that we are cleaning up today. But the responsibility of maintaining cleanliness lies with the citizens and the city authorities. Demand to them to maintain this cleanliness. Then our labour will be useful otherwise our labour will be in vain.
City Mayor Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa said about this initiative, Shyama Sundari is the lung of the city. Rangpur cannot be saved if it cannot be saved. That is why we have taken this initiative. BD Cleans activities are just the beginning. If we want to continue it, the role of our citizens will be positive. Bd clean today. I messed up yesterday. BD clean will not come every day. That's why we are monitoring it. Especially first we will do the work of awareness buildup.
He also said we will do the awareness work for fifteen days or one month. Then we will be strict. Those who litter will be brought under the law. Will be fined. The dirt line from the house is given to Shyama Sundari. It will be completely sealed. No one can give a damn about the brunette beauty. This is our work for that purpose. It started. We will continue it. 5 km has been cleaned and the remaining 11 km of the canal will be cleaned by its own workers. I will not exempt anyone. After that I will bring Shyamasundari back to its former form by involving everyone and implementing the project.
Messenger/Mannan/Sumon
