"As a proud resident of this city, do your own duty. Come forward in making the capital so picturesque that as an educated and conscious citizen you have drawn in your mind," she said.

The PM was speaking at the prize giving ceremony of Dhaka City Beautification Award 2006.

Some 80 government and non-government organisations were awarded in different categories for their contribution to the Dhaka city beautification programme.

GrameenPhone and City Bank were awarded for their outstanding contribution. Fifteen distinguished personalities were also given awards for individual contribution.

The Prime Minister said the infrastructure facility and proper, balanced and sustainable development of Dhaka is important as it is the hub of administrative, political, economical, social and cultural activities.

Comparing the present situation of the capital to that of 2001, Khaleda said traffic congestion, black smoke and garbage on the roads were the common features when BNP took power at that time.

But, the present government attached priority to the cleanliness drive, banned worn out vehicles and two-stroke auto-rickshaws for pollution-free environment, modernised traffic system, introduced electronic signal, renovated and expanded roads and footpaths and constructed fly-overs, over-bridges and multi-storied car parking to ease the traffic congestion, she said.

The PM also listed a number of programmes undertaken to beautify different roads, footpaths and islands, including the Zia International Airport.

Khaleda thanked the private organisations, architects, artists, florists, officials and employees concerned for their contribution to the beautification programme.

To keep the beautification for long time in such a densely populated mega city is impossible, but we made it possible. And it has been possible as some private organisations came forward along with the government initiative.

Khaleda said the government has called for taking joint initiatives by the government and non-government organisations to beautify other cities and towns. Such programmes have already started in some towns.

She said beautification of Dhaka city with public-private partnership is a remarkable success. New look of Dhaka during the last Saarc Summit enthralled the foreign guests as well as tourists. "Our aim is to turn the Dhaka city as an attractive tourist point."

Referring to immense political and diplomatic importance and historical significance of Dhaka, Khaleda said that proper concentration should be given on maintaining historical structures in the city.

She expected more engagement of private organisations in social and welfare-oriented programmes and hoped that public-private partnership in different socio-economic sectors would be strengthened for enhancing overall national development.

LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Coordinator of Dhaka Good Governance and Beautification Committee and PM's Principal Secretary Kamal Siddiqi, Prof Nazmul Islam and the MD of Grammen Bank also spoke on the occasion.