Narayanganj residents fed up with garbage and stench

Most wards of the Narayanganj City Corporation lack proper STS (Secondary Transfer Station) dustbin management, resulting in garbage being dumped indiscriminately on roadsides, alleys, and into the DND canal. As a result, the city and surrounding areas are turning into massive dumping grounds. Foul odors, pollution, and mosquito infestations are creating severe health risks for nearly two million residents. Public suffering has reached an extreme level, especially in the densely populated Siddhirganj area.

From Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, Mohammad Shahadat Hossain Swapan reports, with additional details presented by Abdul Hamid.

Even after more than a decade since its establishment with 27 wards, Narayanganj City Corporation still lags far behind in waste management. Due to the absence of designated STS dustbin locations for household waste disposal, residents are throwing garbage into vacant lands, drains, and along roads and highways throughout the wards. Pollution in Siddhirganj has now reached alarming levels.

Despite regularly paying VAT and municipal taxes to the City Corporation, residents say they are suffering immensely from the poor waste management system.

“The garbage creates unbearable foul smells and makes movement difficult on the roads. We see waste being dumped in different corners of the streets. We want to know what the City Corporation is actually doing. The environment is being destroyed by the stench, and no proper initiative is being taken. The fact that piles of garbage remain everywhere proves that no effective action is happening. They collect money, but the waste is still scattered all around.”

“We are paying bills to the City Corporation and also paying for drain cleaning. On top of that, they often demand extra tips from us. So where is our money going, and who is actually receiving the waste management fees we pay?”

Sanitation workers allege that although residents pay money for waste removal, much of it is being embezzled by a dishonest syndicate.

“Most of the money disappears somewhere else. Some months we do not even receive our salaries properly.”

“There is no proper dumping place for garbage, so people throw waste here and there. We do not get enough support from the City Corporation. Where are we supposed to take and dump the waste?”

“The money is not there. Masum takes it.”

“Masum takes the money, Majid takes it too.”

Although the sanitation officer of the Siddhirganj region, Shyamal Dutta, acknowledged responsibility over the phone, he declined to speak on camera.

Affected residents are demanding an immediate solution to the waste dumping crisis and relief from the severe public suffering caused by the ongoing mismanagement.