DHAKA — The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has launched a multi-pronged strategy aimed at transforming the capital into a cleaner, more climate-resilient, and citizen-friendly urban center. DSCC Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md Abdus Salam outlined the new development works, special drives, and policy measures during a press conference at the DSCC auditorium, summarizing activities from late February to March.
The initiatives span waste-to-energy projects, extensive infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced civic services to address Dhaka’s pressing environmental and urban challenges.
Here are the key highlights from the DSCC’s recent action plan:
Waste Management & Renewable Energy
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Dhaka Resource Circulation Park: A master plan for the Matuail landfill has been developed in partnership with a Korean company. The project aims to extract landfill gas from the 100-acre site to collect 15,000 tonnes of methane annually, which could generate 81,000 megawatts of electricity. An additional 28,000 megawatts are planned through solar energy.
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Material Recovery Facility (MRF): A pilot facility will process 300 tonnes of household waste daily into biogas, compost, biofuel, eco-bricks, and Solid Refused Fuel (SRF).
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Emissions Reduction: If fully implemented, these projects are expected to process the DSCC’s daily waste output (3,200 to 3,500 tonnes) into valuable resources and reduce carbon emissions by roughly 515,000 tonnes annually.
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Landfill Safety: To prevent frequent fires, 40% of the landfill waste has been covered with soil to control methane. Water hydrants, pipelines, and six new portable pumps have been installed across the 181-acre site.
Waterlogging & Monsoon Preparedness
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Infrastructure Upgrades: A consulting firm has been appointed to modernize the drainage system in zones 1 through 5. Two new drainage outlets at New Market and Sowarighat have been approved to improve water discharge capacity.
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Canal Restoration: Active restoration work is underway in four major canals: Jirani, Shyampur, Kalunagar, and Manda.
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Emergency Response: Ahead of the monsoon, a month-long cleanliness drive began with the Segunbagicha box culvert. The DSCC has identified 33 waterlogging hotspots, formed emergency response teams, and readied portable pumps for rapid deployment during heavy rainfall.
Urban Greening & Civic Services
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Tree Plantation: Nurseries are being established to support extensive tree planting across 20 parks, 13 playgrounds, and 20 city squares.
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Reduced Fees: Registration fees for graveyards and cremation grounds have been halved from Tk 1,000 to Tk 500 to ease the financial burden on citizens.
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Community Spaces: The newly inaugurated six-storey Siddique Bazar Community Centre will host social and family events for residents of Old Dhaka.
Governance & Efficiency
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Traffic Decongestion: At the Sayedabad Bus Terminal, illegal ticket counters and roadside shops are being removed. Buses are now strictly required to use designated bays instead of using the terminal as a depot. Passenger services will also see the addition of an information desk and a breastfeeding room.
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Energy Conservation: To save public funds and energy, the DSCC has mandated a 30% reduction in fuel allocation for official vehicles and a 20% reduction for waste-carrying trucks.
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Citizen Engagement: A newly introduced “Public Hearing Day” will be held every Saturday, allowing residents to submit complaints and suggestions directly to city officials. Furthermore, mosquito control efforts have been significantly intensified across all wards.
