People suffer for foul smell as Sonargaon bridge turns into garbage hotspot

SONARGAON, NARAYANGANJ, July 5: A large pile of garbage that has accumulated beneath the Marikhali Bridge at Mograpara intersection in Sonargaon Upazila has become a source of severe public suffering, with residents and commuters complaining of foul odour, environmental pollution and growing health risks.

The bridge, located at the busy junction of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, has effectively turned into an open dumping ground as waste continues to be discarded indiscriminately.

Locals said the stench has become so unbearable that pedestrians and motorists are often forced to cover their noses while passing through the area. Many have demanded the immediate removal of the waste and a permanent waste management solution.

Environmental Protection and Development Society said it had submitted memorandums to the Department of Environment, the deputy commissioner's office and the local administration, seeking urgent action.

The upazila administration carried out a clean-up drive on June 18 with the help of local residents and instructed people not to dump waste there. However, locals said the directive has largely been ignored, with dumping continuing unabated.

A visit to the site found heaps of waste stretching along the roadside beneath the bridge. Decomposing garbage has created an unbearable stench, while vehicles and pedestrians using the U-turn under the bridge are forced to pass through the polluted area.

Businessmen at Mograpara intersection, including Kamal Hossain, Ramzan Hasan and Billal Hossain, said the foul smell had made it difficult to stay in the area.

They urged the authorities to remove the waste and free residents and traders from the long-standing nuisance.

Mohammad Hossain, President of the Environmental Protection and Development Society, said indiscriminate dumping had become routine in the area.

"Even light rain creates an unhygienic environment around the garbage pile. Mosquitoes and flies breed there, increasing the risk of diseases, including dengue," he said.

He added that open dumping violated environmental protection policies and stressed the need for a modern, planned waste management system to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Sonargaon Upazila Nirbahi Officer Asif Al Jinat acknowledged the problem, describing the accumulation of waste at such an important location as unfortunate.

"We have already conducted a clean-up drive and instructed people not to dump waste there. The main challenge is the lack of a designated dumping site. We are identifying suitable land and will submit a proposal for a large-scale waste management project," he said.

The UNO said the administration had adopted a three-phase plan to address the issue permanently.

The first phase involves removing the existing waste and cleaning the area. The second phase will focus on preventing further dumping through monitoring and enforcement, while the third phase aims to establish an environmentally compliant permanent waste disposal facility for the upazila.

He also urged local residents to cooperate with the administration in keeping Sonargaon clean and environmentally sustainable.