Khulna: The Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Administrator, Nazrul Islam Manju, has announced plans to formulate a comprehensive action plan aimed at transforming Khulna into a green, pollution-free, and mosquito-free city. This announcement came during a views-exchange meeting held at the GIZ auditorium of Nagar Bhaban, where leaders from the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), Khulna, and KCC officials gathered.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Manju emphasized the importance of identifying key city problems and understanding public expectations, in line with guidance from the Prime Minister, before finalizing any development initiatives. The meeting was attended by prominent figures, including the Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University, Prof. Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim, as well as educators from Khulna University and Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, and city planners from various government and private organizations.
Speakers at the meeting identified significant opportunities for plann
ed development within the Khulna metropolitan area. They proposed recommendations such as area-based cleanliness drives, land classification near the city, identification of government lands for the rehabilitation of climate-displaced individuals, and measures to control air pollution. Additional suggestions included regulating easy-bike movement, introducing uniform color coding, organizing ward-based sports competitions, and ensuring coordination among all development agencies.
Planners at the meeting stressed the importance of aligning all developmental projects with existing master plans to ensure sustainable urban growth. They also highlighted the role of water conservation, particularly the Mayur River, in managing the city’s water resources. The connection of existing canals to the river was proposed as a solution to reduce waterlogging, a persistent issue in Khulna.
The meeting also addressed the problem of indiscriminate waste dumping, which clogs drains and canals. Manju emphasized the need to rai
se public awareness to change such behavior and called for cooperation from all stakeholders to achieve the city’s development goals.