In a remarkable initiative, the banks of Bhairab river in Kachua upazila of Bagerhat, which were once overwhelmed with indiscriminate pollution, have been transformed into a scenic, tourist-friendly spot.

The voluntary effort, led by Kachua upazila nirbahi officer KM Abu Nawshad, was a collaboration among BD Clean Kachua, local market vendors, journalists, politicians, volunteers, government and non-governmental organisations.

As part of the initiative, local residents and volunteers under the banner of 'Team Kachua' cleaned up the decades of wastes accumulated in the river and its surroundings. A sustained effort is also being made to ensure cleanliness remains a part of the local community's daily life.

Chayon Debnath, coordinator of BD Clean Kachua, highlighted that the team has divided the market on the riverbank into smaller sub-teams, motivating shopkeepers to take part in the clean-up drive and encouraging them to foster a sense of pride and responsibility among themselves as part of the initiative.

The initiative has sparked a ripple effect, by motivating Kachua residents to take up their own clean-up campaigns for four canals in the area, he added.

"We have long-term plans to carry out further activities to ensure sustainability of the cleanliness achieved, and enhance the town's environmental health," UNO KM Abu Nawshad said.