Dhaka: The government will form a high-profile taskforce involving Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to ensure better management of the growing solid wastes in Dhaka city, UNB reported on Sunday quoting a government official.

‘The high-level taskforce will be formed with representatives from the PMO, Agriculture Ministry, Power Division, Department of Environment, Local Government Division and two city mayors,’ Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told a meeting.

The meeting was held at the PMO as per a decision of the 10^th meeting of National Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Board.

Abul Kalam Azad, also president of National CDM Board, said compost fertiliser and power generation may be byproducts of the waste management, but the authorities concerned should give more emphasis on managing wastes of the capital city than by-products.

According to sources, Dhaka city generates about 6,000 tonnes of wastes per day while both Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have the capacity to collect only 2,400 tonnes of wastes. The rest of the wastes are being dumped in open places indiscriminately.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq, DSCC Mayor Mohammad Sayed Khokan and Environment and Forests Secretary Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed, among others, spoke at the meeting.