‘No litter on Tokyo’s streets, rubbish everywhere in Dhaka’ — PM calls changing this picture a major reform
Photo: Collected
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has spoken of the goal of building Dhaka into a clean city like Tokyo. He said the government is working to make the whole country, including the capital, clean, pollution-free and healthy.
He said this on Wednesday evening at a views-exchange event organised by Bangladesh Community, an organisation of Bangladeshi expatriates in Japan, at Hotel New Otani in Tokyo. The prime minister also answered various questions from the expatriates at the event.
Drawing a comparison between the two cities, Tarique Rahman said that no litter is visible on Tokyo’s streets, whereas in Dhaka there are heaps of rubbish all around — this situation must change. Garbage spreads germs; so keeping the environment clean and ensuring proper waste removal is essential to keep city dwellers healthy. In his words, ‘We are trying to make the whole country, including Dhaka, clean. Initiatives are being taken to reduce air pollution, improve the environment and plant trees in various places.’
Highlighting the importance of a clean environment for improving ordinary people’s quality of life, he said effective steps must be taken so that people do not suffer while walking because of rubbish and do not fall ill from polluted air. ‘If we can make Dhaka city clean like Tokyo, that will be a major reform.’
Marginalised people the priority
The prime minister said the first consideration in reform is the welfare of marginalised people. The government wants to carry out reforms whose benefits go directly to the marginalised and working people of society; the results of initiatives in education, health and the environment will reach people of all classes and professions. He said that as a politician he considers reform to be that which benefits even the person at the very margins of the country.
Noting that everyone’s cooperation is needed for these reforms, he said building the desired Bangladesh will be possible with the support of democracy-minded people. He alleged that attempts are being made to create a situation in which the BNP government cannot carry out reforms that would benefit ordinary people.
Addressing the expatriates, the prime minister said that if the reforms taken up by the government are implemented, ordinary people of the country, including their families, will benefit, so they should support these initiatives. He added, however, that he was not asking them to vote for the BNP; if they think the work is right, they should support it so that it can be implemented. The expatriates present applauded in support.
He said the government’s goal is to implement the reforms needed to improve people’s quality of life, including in education, health and the environment. Some reforms benefit a limited number of people, but his priority is initiatives that benefit the wider population. Saying this requires hard work, patience and unity, he called on everyone to work together for the country’s development and sought the expatriates’ cooperation and prayers.
At the start of the event, the prime minister outlined the government’s plans for building skills in various areas including Japanese language learning for children, healthcare and sports, easing business and trade, reopening closed factories, increasing investment and creating jobs.
The event, moderated by BNP executive committee member Abdus Sattar Patwari, was attended by members of the delegation including Dr Zubaida Rahman, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, the prime minister’s adviser on finance and planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Civil Aviation Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Power Aninda Islam Amit and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority chairman Ashik Chowdhury. On behalf of Japan BNP, the prime minister and Dr Zubaida Rahman were presented with a photograph as a gift.
Background
Dhaka Times reported on 26 October 2026 that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dhaka for Tokyo late on Sunday night on a four-day state visit at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The report said the 15-member delegation includes the finance minister, the state minister for foreign affairs, the BIDA chairman, the Bangladesh Bank governor and the foreign secretary.
Sources
Original report: BSS
Background sources: Dhaka Times, 26 October 2026
