Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday urged the public to support efforts to keep Bangladesh clean, warning that civic cooperation is vital to creating a safe and habitable country.

Addressing villagers in Gournadi upazila after launching a tree-planting initiative along the Sarikal–Batajor Canal, Rahman, who also chairs the BNP, said national cleanliness could not be outsourced, the state news agency BSS reported. Households and citizens must take personal responsibility for their surroundings, he noted, as no outside agency would manage the country’s sanitation.

The prime minister appealed to the public to stop littering, specifically highlighting the casual disposal of empty water bottles and packaging. Such habits damage the environment, he warned, threatening the long-term well-being of future generations.

Disclosing a lifelong personal habit, Rahman noted that he carries used tissues in his pockets throughout the day before discarding them in a bin at night. He explained that he developed this routine in childhood to ensure his actions matched his public appeals, adding that self-discipline could yield consistent results.

If the public adopted similar habits, Rahman said, the country would secure international praise from foreign visitors for its environmental care.

The prime minister likened the nation to a household, arguing that cleanliness is impossible if a few individuals clean while the majority litter. Waste must only be disposed of in designated areas, he said.

Unchecked dumping along major transit routes between Dhaka and Barisal town has left markets and shops surrounded by refuse, Rahman noted, adding that this pollution creates an unsightly landscape while actively damaging public health.

Calling for a collective commitment to protect the environment for future generations, Rahman urged citizens to mark the tree-planting event by pledging to maintain their homes, roads and neighbourhoods.