Pol commitment needed for environment-friendly solid waste mgmt

Speakers at a view exchange meeting

Staff Correspondent:

Civil society representatives at a view exchange meeting on Wednesday underlined the need for political commitment to ensure environmentally friendly solid waste management.

They placed recommendations to ensure environment-friendly solid waste management to build smart and sustainable urbanization for the protection of all, including marginalized communities, women, and children.

The recommendations raised by the marginalized groups should be included in the election manifesto of the political party, said the speakers.

Coalition for the Urban Poor (CUP) organized the meeting in association with Dustha Swasthya Kendra (DSK), BARSIK, and INSIGHTS at the CUP office auditorium in Adabar in the capital on Wednesday.

Senior journalist Nikhil Chandra Bhadra presided over the meeting. Former president of Dhaka Reporters Unity Rafiqul Islam Azad, member secretary of People’s Health Movement Aminur Rasul Babul, sports and cultural secretary of Dhaka Journalist Union Sakila Parveen, Ferdous Ahmed Ujjal of BARSIK, journalists Gazi Shahnewaz, Habibur Rahman, Saiful Masum were present in the meeting moderated by CUP project manager Md Mahbubul Haque.

DSK Consortium Coordinator Rakibul Islam presented the keynote speech on solid waste management in Bangladesh.

Shafiqul Islam and Zahida Parvez Chanda and representatives of slum dwellers’ organizations Rafeza Begum, Fatema Akhter, and Hannan Akand also took part in the discussion.

The recommendations raised in the meeting said that planning, integrated, and sustainable solid waste management should be done to develop a healthy environment to deal with climate risks while upholding equal opportunities and rights of all city dwellers. The recommendations also include ensuring the participation of marginalized communities in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, conversion of waste into resources, the introduction of a circular economy, and implementation of programs for sustainable and quality urban waste management. Besides, community-led sustainable solid waste management needs to establish democratic values and good governance through adequate budget allocation, transparent and accountable administration, digital monitoring, and oversight.

In his keynote speech, Rakibul Islam said that solid waste management affects the well-being of all sections of society equally. Therefore, to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030, it is very important to include the recommendations on environmentally friendly solid waste management in the election manifestos and pledges of political parties.

Journalist leader Rafiqul Islam Azad said that the state needs to ensure environment-friendly solid waste management to ensure the well-being of people. Therefore, the expectation of the general public is that solid waste management will be included in the election manifestos and pledges of political parties.

Development worker Aminur Rasul Babul said that the safety of all the people involved in the solid waste management profession should be ensured. For this, the political party’s commitment is essential. He urged everyone to work together to do this work.