Garbage disposal in Dhaka

One major problem in Dhaka is waste management, yet it is an issue that has remained the least addressed. The problem is the collective outcome of Dhaka’s dense population and its negligence—which has resulted in the polluting of the environment—making the metropolitan somewhat uninhabitable, even though it is home to approximately over 20 million people.

As I leave my house early every morning, I see piles of uncollected garbage on the streets that not only is an eyesore but is also detrimental to the air we breathe and the environment. This scenario is a common sight across much of the capital.

The initiative to install garbage bins throughout Dhaka is surely commendable—but what benefit we have gained so far remains questionable. Although the city corporations have taken measures that they deem important to control garbage disposal, it seems that those have had little or no impact. The authorities must educate the residents about waste management and take measures like recycling or turning waste into biogas.

The citizens too must realise that they have a duty towards maintaining the city’s cleanliness and should act accordingly. Through such cooperative measures, we can make Dhaka a better place to live in, for us, as well as the generations to come.

Sadia Islam, University of Dhaka