Garbage piles up along highway

Garbage has been dumped beside the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for years, creating a serious nuisance for commuters and locals.

In Bhaluka municipality of Mymensingh, waste has long been dumped in various open spaces without proper management, alleged residents. Despite repeated complaints, no effective steps have been taken yet, they said.

Thousands of vehicles of different modes from Mymensingh, Sherpur, Netrakona, Jamalpur and Kishoreganj travel through the highway every day, with passengers facing the unbearable stench and unsightly piles of garbage.

Established in 1998, Bhaluka municipality spans 24.68 square kilometres and is home to around 1,60,000 people. Yet, in 27 years, the municipality has failed to establish a designated dumping ground.

"There are no dustbins in the municipality, and garbage management is almost non-existent," said Md Shahab Uddin, a former councillor of the municipality. "Around six tonnes of garbage are generated daily, which is left in different areas."

He said the municipality employs only about 60 cleaning staff, which is far too few to manage the waste properly. Garbage is being dumped at multiple locations, including at least four spots alongside the highway.

During heavy rainfall, a significant portion of this waste is washed into local water bodies, further polluting the environment, alleged locals.

Sheikh Azmol Huda Madani, a local journalist, said the municipal authorities have been dumping waste in open places since its inception, ignoring the environmental and health consequences. "Nearly three decades have passed, but the municipality has utterly failed to ensure basic civic amenities," he said.

Dr Md Saiful Islam Khan, civil surgeon in Mymensingh, said, "Such dumping can severely affect the environment. Residents are at risk of various environment-related and waterborne diseases, including long-term respiratory problems, skin diseases, allergies, eye irritation, and diarrhoea."

Contacted, Hasan Abdullah Al Mahmud, upazila nirbahi officer of Bhaluka, said, "We have already selected one acre of land at Meghar Math, and work is underway to complete the dumping ground as early as possible."