Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator and freedom fighter Md. Abdus Salam has accused the interim government of severely damaging the capital’s environmental and urban progress. Speaking on Sunday at a discussion titled “Integrated Environmental Management: Forest, Environment, River and Urbanization” organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at the National Press Club, he said the city had been set back 18 years in just 18 months due to poor planning and lack of coordination.

Salam criticized the interim government’s environmental management, citing worsening traffic congestion, air pollution, and unplanned urbanization. He stressed that speeches alone would not solve environmental problems without effective implementation. He also highlighted ongoing initiatives by the city corporation, including a 15-day mosquito survey, a pilot project for underground utility lines in Dhanmondi, and plans to modernize waste management through foreign partnerships.

He urged citizens to take responsibility alongside the city authorities, emphasizing that half of Dhaka’s improvement depends on public awareness. Salam called for social resistance against theft of public property and collective efforts to transform Dhaka’s image.