Wastes still stink in Dinajpur town

Wastes of sacrificial animals are polluting the environment in the municipality as the authorities concerned have not removed them till now.

Dinajpur municipality selected 36 places under its 12 wards for systematic slaughtering of the sacrificial animals this year. The selected places were mostly playing fields in the municipal area. Mayor of Dinajpur municipality Jahangir Alam said the step was taken to facilitate cleaning of the waste.

The municipality authorities were supposed to clean the waste within 48 hours, as per their pledge.

During a visit to different places in Dinajpur municipality on Saturday, this correspondent found that the wastes of sacrificial animals had not been cleaned, and waste bins were overflowing on to the road in most places.

People walk with their noses covered due to the stench of the wastes. “Such a scene is now common in Dinajpur,” said Julfikar Ali of Dinajpur satellite town.

The situation is worse in Khetripara, Ramnagar, Balubari, Barabandar, Dinajpur Government College Moar, Suihari, Kalitola, Chhotorgulgola and Borogurgola, Baluaganda, Chowliapatty, Churipotty, Dinajpur Settelite Town and Phulbari Bus stand area.

“We requested the municipality authorities several times to maintain cleanliness of Dinajpur town, but the mayor never paid heed to our appeal,” said Jamshed Ali of Kalitola area, adding that the waste matter not only pollutes the environment but can also lead to respiratory problems due to inhaling the toxic air near the waste dumping sites. The problem is quite common all over Dinajpur town, he added. The wastes release poisonous gases which are harmful for health. In a few places it was found that people set fire to the wastes, but the smoke of the wastes is also harmful for public health, locals said.

Journalists in Dinajpur raised the issue of cleaning at a meeting on Friday with M Iqbalur Rahim, lawmaker from Dinajpur Sadar and whip of the Jatiya Sangsad. The whip said he would talk with the ministry concerned about the issue.

Mayor Jahangir Alam said there is a shortage of manpower and waste dumping places. He is trying to clean the town as soon as possible with the existing manpower. 

Former mayor Shafiqul Haq said existing manpower is enough for cleaning the wastes within 48 hours, but that work could not be done in last seven days because of negligence.

Executive Engineer of the Public Health Department in Dinajpur Murad Hossain said they are not working on this issue.