Bangladesh, July 13 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on the people of Bangladesh to help keep the country clean and tidy.

Speaking on Monday morning while inaugurating a tree-planting program along the Sarikal-Batjor Canal in Barishal's Gournadi, he urged local residents-and the nation as a whole-to take responsibility for maintaining a clean environment.

He said, "I would like to request the people of the entire country - let us all make an effort not to throw garbage just anywhere. Suppose we drink a bottle of water and empty it - we shouldn't just toss the bottle wherever we are. If we carry something in a plastic bag, once we have taken the item out and no longer need the bag, we should not throw it away indiscriminately...