A waste treatment plant in Barguna town constructed at a cost of Tk 16 crore under the LGSP project with World Bank funding has been lying inoperative for the last three years amid environmental and health concerns.

Meanwhile, 7–8 tonnes of municipal waste is being dumped daily in the densely populated Sonakhali area in the town, causing severe environmental pollution and health hazards, official sources said.

Residents Suffer from Toxic Pollution

Visiting the area the UNB correspondent found 10–15 families reside less than 50 yards from the Sonakhali dumping ground.

These residents endure continuous smoke, stench, and an infestation of flies and mosquitoes.

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The nightly burning of waste by municipal sanitation workers exacerbates the situation, with black smoke lingering throughout the day.

Sabina Yasmin, a local resident, said, “For 20 years, waste has been dumped in front of my house, forming a massive heap. Every night, trucks unload waste, which overflows by dawn. The smell of burning plastic and polythene is suffocating, making it unbearable to live here."

Thousands of students and commuters who traverse the area daily are also affected. The stench and smoke force them to cover their noses.

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Lack of Skilled Manpower Delays Plant Operations

The waste treatment plant in Helibunia village has not been made operational due to a lack of skilled manpower.

Barguna Municipality Executive Officer Md. Rafiqul Islam Ripon said, "We are working on waste management. Skilled and experienced manpower will soon be recruited to operate the treatment plant in Helibunia."

However, in the meantime, unregulated dumping continues to affect the densely populated Sonakhali area.

Public Health Risks Highlighted

Health experts have raised alarms over the mixture of hospital and general waste at the dumping site.

Barguna Civil Surgeon Dr. Pradip Chandra Mondal said, “Unplanned waste management is harmful to the environment and public health. Open spaces cannot serve as dumping grounds. Mixing hospital and general waste produces toxic gases that cause severe diseases in humans. These two types of waste must be recycled separately."

Locals demanded operationalising the waste treatment plant and proper waste management practices.

Without immediate action, the health and well-being of residents, particularly children and the elderly, remain at risk, alongside the town's environment, they said.

Waste management challenge in Bangladesh

Municipal solid wastes have been a great challenge all over the world today for their huge volumes. Bangladesh faces many challenges due to its large, rapidly growing population in urban areas.

Bangladesh is the ninth most populous and 12th most densely populated country in the world. With this population growth, there is an increasing problem of waste management, particularly in larger cities.

Currently, according to an UNFPA report, Dhaka is one of the most polluted cities in the world and one of the issues concerned is the management of municipal waste.