(BSS) - Environmental, Forest and Climate Change, and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said canals and rivers are national assets and no one has the right to grab and pollute those.

She said a canal cleaning campaign is being implemented in all 64 districts as part of the ongoing effort to make the country`s waterways free from pollution.

"Although the campaign will officially run till November 15, efforts to keep these waterways clean will continue. There will have a local committee for each canal to prevent pollution," she added.

The water resources adviser made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the national launch of the canal cleaning drive across 64 districts, held at Tri-Mohini Eidgah ground at Rampura in the city.

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain officially inaugurated the canal cleaning campaign at Rampura-Zirani canal here, marking the National Youth Day 2024.

Rizwana urged the volunteers and the youth to take on the national responsibility of keeping the canals free from pollution, stressing that this work should continue.

She said presenting the future generations with pollution-free canals and rivers will be one of the major successes of the Youth Day.

Every national issue or special programme should be undertaken in unity, Rizwana said.

Presided over by Youth and Sports Secretary Md Rezaul Maksud Jahidi, the function was addressed, among others, by Water Resources Secretary Nazmul Ahsan and Director General of the Department of Youth Development Dr Gazi Md Saifuzzaman.

The programme concluded with an oath-taking ceremony for volunteers and youth workers, pledging to keep canals clean.

The Dhaka canal cleaning drive saw the participation of 700 volunteers from BD Clean and Nongor. In addition, various youth organisations under the Department of Youth Development, along with local government bodies, administrative officials, city corporations, BIWTA, the Bangladesh Water Development Board, the Forest Department, the Fire Service and commoners participated in it.