Buriganga now a \\\'dustbin for lack of proper planning\\\'

Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain said Thursday the river Buriganga has turned into a dustbin due to lack of proper planning.
He also informed that dredging work will be carried out to bring back the navigability of several rivers including Buriganga. The Prime Minister got assurance of cooperation from Japan in this connection during her visit to that country, he added.
The minister was addressing a roundtable discussion on 'Role of Urban Development Directorate (UDD) in Building a Planned Bangladesh' at UDD conference room on the occasion of observing 49th anniversary of the directorate.
Mr Mosharraf chaired the discussion while Prime Minister's economic adviser Moshiur Rahman, University of Asia Pacific vice-chancellor Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, former adviser to the caretaker government Hossain Zillur Rahman, Bangladesh Planners Association president Golam Rahman, Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology professor Sarwar Jahan, National Project Director of Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme Abdul Kayium were also present, among others.
Housing secretary Golam Rabbani moderated the discussion while UDD senior planner Kazi Md Fazlul Haque presented the keynote paper.
Mosharraf Hossain also expressed his dissatisfaction over the slow shifting process of the Hazaribagh tanneries to Savar although instructions are there.
In his speech, Moshiur Rahman said three things should be taken into account while planning for the country's development. These are: land, water, and population.  
He said UDD has prepared the master plans of 50 districts and 392 upazilas and pourasavas which is a grand success.    
A participant in the discussion said UDD has ultimately felt their limitations although their mentality is still bureaucratic. They should develop their skills and a mentality for working with various organisations and stakeholders if they really want to develop National Physical Plan for the whole country.