Where putrid stench greets patients

Imagine a dumpster sitting right opposite the main gate of a hospital, spreading a ghastly stench. Those who dump waste here don't even bother to make sure their trash is placed at the bin, which means there's at least a few feet of waste around the dumpster. Even though the bin has remained at such a sensitive spot for years, no steps have been taken to remove it.

If common sense prevailed, such a scenario would never exist in reality. However, such a dumpster, where everything from household waste, hospital garbage, drug waste and roadside trash are dumped, comfortably sits just before the main gate of the 250-bed General Hospital near Khulna city's KCC market.

Visiting the spot on Saturday, this correspondent saw the huge, iron-made dumpster forcing patients and their attendants to cross the area by covering their faces. What it makes it worse is that the spot near the waiting area for the hospital's Covid-19 unit, where hundreds of people come everyday to get tested or vaccinated.

During this correspondent's visit, at least 10 patients with severe illnesses were seen waiting on easy bikes adjacent to the dumpster as well.

Surprisingly, the bin is also only 400 feet away from the deputy commissioner's (DC) office. Another office just opposite the bin belongs to the Khulna police superintendent.

Gobinda Bar, a patient's relative from Jashore's Monirampur upazila, said, "If such conditions persist, patients will be more prone to diseases instead of being cured."

Pedestrian Akhi Akhter, a frequent commuter of the road, said the stench is not just limited to the hospital area, but extends to several nearby offices and residences.

Although at least three doctors and two staffers of the hospital told this correspondent that the conservancy department of KCC collect waste from the bin almost every day, they also said it gets filled up in no time. Demanding that the dumpster be removed outright, they said if it has be here, the waste should be collected every three-four hours.

Anwarul Kadir, educationalist and member of Transparency International Bangladesh, Khulna, said they had requested KCC authorities to shift the bin to another place several times, but to no avail.

Echoing the same, Niaz Mohammed, civil surgeon of Khulna, said it's hard to believe a dustbin is placed right at the entrance of a hospital.

Contacted, Md Abdul Aziz, chief conservancy officer of KCC, said, "In the past, we didn't have other options to place it. However, we are working on finding a suitable place now and wish to relocate it immediately."