Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government is taking all possible steps to solve the problems in the city and will initiate a long term plan to build a new Dhaka by 2020. reports UNB.

"We will have to start our work now If we want to see a planned new Dhaka by the year 2020." she said while addressing the MPs and Dhaka City Corporation ward commissioners at the International Conference Centre yesterday afternoon.

Hasina said huge land would be available after constructing the Tongi-Demra flood protection embankment, where a new township will be developed.

In the planned township, the government will provide all civic amenities, including water. gas and electricity, she said.

She added that the government has also taken up a plan to build small townships around the capita) where all facilities. Including markets, healthcare centres, schools, colleges and parks will be provided.

The Prime Minister said the government is also working on a plan to ease communications between capital Dhaka and Its adjacent districts so that people can come in the morning to work in the capital and return home in the evening.

About the problems of the capita), she said the government Is taking up diversified tirogrammes to solve the prob-ems of sewerage, water, electricity and telephone.

About traffic jam. Hasina said many new roads have been constructed in the capital and the government has planned to build a ring road around the capital.

She said roads would also be constructed on both sides of the railroad to help ease the traffic Jam.

The government will conduct dredging in the rivers around the capital for smooth navigability and also to maintain a waterway around ihe capital to promole tourism.

She said some effective steps have already been taken for

removing water logging in the capital and the situation has already improved in many areas. Including Shantinagar and Kakrail,

The Prime Minister said development work is going on in every ward of the city and urged the ward commissioners to coordinate with local MPs.

'You should remain alert to see whether the money allocated for development is being properly utilised or not.”

She said the government is constructing box culverts and digging some canals to solve the drainage problem in the .city.

"For removing drinking water supply problem, we have taken up massive programmes and the situation lias already improved remarkably,' Hasina said calling upon the ward commissioners to motivate people not to waste water.

She also urged the commls sloners to maintain cleanliness in their respective wards and plant trees to protect environment.

When her attention was drawn by some ward commissioners about the voters' ID card, the Prime Minister said voter list is a continuous process and for the ID card, a pro ject is under implementation.

About terrorism. Hasina suggested the ward commissioners to form committee with local people to halt terrorism and extortion. She also asked the public representatives to involve the law-enforcing agencies in curbing terrorism.

Dhaka City Mayor Mohammad Hanlf. ward commission-. ers Nazir Hossain. Hari Abdur ‘Rahim. Habibur Rahman Mizan. Kamal Chowdhury. Mostafa Kamal, Sheikh Mu-jibur Rahman. Kazi Moinuddin Monir. Jamal Mostafa. Mohammad Sayeed. Kazi Molnul Islam Monu and Khalequzza-man Chowdhury also addressed the meeting.

Ruling party MPs Kama I /Mimed Majumder, Alhaj Mok-bul Hossain. Habibur Rahman Mollah. Dr H B M Iqbal. A K M Rahmatullah and Haji Selim were present.