A municipal landfill built by occupying the bank of the Kapotaksha River in Moheshpur, Jhenaidah, has triggered environmental concerns, with residents suffering from pollution and foul odours.
Municipal waste, household rubbish and other refuse are being dumped regularly beside a major bypass road along the riverbank, damaging the natural beauty of the river and increasing the risk of air pollution-related illnesses.
Pedestrians and nearby residents say the unbearable stench has made movement along the road difficult.
A visit to the site found the dumping ground located beside the road from Moheshpur Municipality intersection towards Jalilpur via the Kapotaksha riverbank. Waste piled up along the river has spread a strong odour across the area, forcing many pedestrians to cover their faces or wear masks while passing through.
The Moheshpur municipal wholesale fish market, situated just opposite the dumping site, has also been affected. Traders said the persistent smell has created difficulties for both sellers and buyers. Residents alleged that municipal waste, market waste and medical waste have been dumped there for more than four years.
Local resident Jotsna Rani said municipal vehicles dump waste beside the riverbank every day. “During rainfall, scattered rubbish flows onto the road, and the stench makes it almost impossible to travel through the area,” she said.
Another resident, Suruj Ahmed, said the dumping site was created on the riverbank without consulting local people. “The land belongs to the Water Development Board. We do not know how the municipality has been using it. We want the riverbank cleared and the landfill relocated immediately,” he said.
Moheshpur Municipality Executive Engineer Mohammad Sohel Rana said the landfill was created about four years ago as no suitable alternative site was available. “It was done on the instructions of the then mayor,” he said, adding that no official approval had been obtained from the Water Development Board for using the land.
Moheshpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer and municipal administrator Md Sajjad Hossen said a decision had been taken in principle to establish a new dumping station following applications from residents. However, work to shift waste to the new site has not started due to road-related complications. “The process is ongoing,” he added.
