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LAST-MINUTE BEAUTIFICATION

City wears a different look ahead of Summit

Roads, medians, intersections and islands are being cleaned and decorated with flowers, flags and portraits of leaders

CITY CORRESPONDENT
Dhaka wears a beautiful look to welcome the South Asian leaders and other delegates in the Saarc summit beginning on November 12.
Workers are now busy giving final touches to their work under a project undertaken one year ago. They are also making some hasty changes at some places as part of the last-minute beautification.
The city dwellers who went out of the city on Eid vacation, were amazed to see the new look after returning to Dhaka.
“It is amazing. So many changes within less than a week,” said Khasru Chowdhury, who went to his village in Mymensingh on the vacation and returned to Dhaka after Eid.
The roads, medians, road islands, intersections and footpaths have been decorated with flower plants. The bamboo and iron fencing around beautified spots have been removed ahead of the summit.
The roads that will be used by the guests attending the South Asia's most prestigious summit have been decorated with the flags and portraits of the heads of the state and government of the seven countries.
These roads have got a new look as the Dhaka City Corporation has removed the odd-looking billboards, signboards and the posters and graffiti on the walls.
“We have whitewashed a number of buildings and walls, and asked many building owners to do it ahead of the summit,” said an official in the Dhaka City Beautification Cell (DCBC).
At Karwan Bazar, a wholesale vegetable market, has been cleaned up and rebuilt overnight and a giant signboard put on it.
The roads that have got the highest priority in the beautification are VIP roads, from Bijoy Sarani to Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, the road in front of Zia Udyan, from west side of Mohakhali flyover to Kakrail mosque via Jahangir Gate, Farmgate, hotel Sonargaon and Sheraton.
New road signs and signals both on and beside the roads have been installed. Final washing and cleaning of the roads are now going on.
Both sides of these roads and road dividers have been lighted with decorative fairy lights and lamps.
The summit venues and many important buildings have also been illuminated. These include the Prime Ministers' Office and residence, Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, hotel Sonargaon and Sheraton.
The untidy knots of telephone, electricity, internet and satellite TV cables have been rearranged. Besides, footpaths have been freed from hawkers.
The city dwellers say they always dream of such a beautiful city and wish this beautification will not disappear after the end of the summit.
“The authorities should be strict not to let the hawkers come back to the city roads and footpaths again and should not allow posters and graffiti on walls anymore.,” said Kaiser Ahmed, an elderly citizen.