Govt begins clearing waste along Dhaka-Aricha highway, plans tree plantation to prevent dumping

The government has begun removing piles of waste along the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar following a directive from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with plans to fence the area and plant neem trees to prevent future dumping.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives State Minister Mir Shahe Alam announced the initiative while inspecting waste removal work in the Boliarpur area of the highway today (11 July).

He said the long-standing waste problem came to the prime minister's attention during his visit to Singair a few days ago to inspect the Bangladesh Army's summer exercise.

"After the prime minister instructed me to address the issue, I spoke with the deputy commissioner and a meeting was held. Based on the decisions taken there, the district administration, along with the Savar and Keraniganj upazila administrations, has begun cleaning the 1.8-kilometre stretch," the state minister said.

He said the initiative is not limited to clearing the waste. The area will be fenced and neem saplings planted to discourage future dumping.

Shahe Alam said the stretch, from Aminbazar to Hemayetpur, had long remained an unmanaged dumping ground because it fell outside the jurisdiction of both Dhaka North City Corporation and Savar Municipality.

"As a result, anyone could dump waste there without obstruction, and no authority took responsibility for cleaning it," he said.

The state minister urged residents of Tetuljhora and Aminbazar unions and surrounding areas to use the new waste disposal site being developed by Savar Municipality instead of dumping waste along the roadside.

"We seek everyone's cooperation in making Bangladesh cleaner and greener. We will do whatever is necessary to make the country more liveable and ensure a healthier environment," he said.

Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam, Savar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Saiful Islam, Keraniganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Umar Faruq and officials from the ministry, district administration and relevant departments were present during the visit.

Earlier, speaking at a civic dialogue in Savar last night, Saiful Islam said Savar Municipality generates around 400 tonnes of waste daily but lacks an effective disposal or recycling system.

He said the municipality is spending around Tk50 lakh each month on waste management, or nearly Tk6 crore annually, and plans to outsource waste collection and disposal to a professional firm to improve efficiency.

According to Saiful Islam, around 150 workers have been engaged in clearing the waste at Boliarpur.

He said the accumulated waste has been reduced to a manageable level and covered with sand, but the complete cleanup is expected to take about a month.

He also blamed a section of waste collectors and a lack of public awareness for illegal dumping.

He said waste collectors often dump garbage along roadsides because there is no designated disposal site, adding that the administration has detained several offenders and seized vehicles used for illegal dumping.