Dhaka-Aricha highway turns into waste dumping zone amid blame game between authorities
The most affected area lies in front of the Aminbazar power grid substation, where nearly 200 metres of roadside are lined with refuse
Highlights:
- Waste dumped onto highway despite nearby Aminbazar landfill
- Dhaka North City and Savar municipality trade blame over dumping
- Residents allege influential groups dumping waste to grab land
- Stench and sludge from garbage pose health and environmental risks
- Environmentalists warn of groundwater and aquatic pollution
- Commuters describe highway journey as intolerable due to foul odour
The Dhaka–Aricha highway, a key arterial route connecting the capital with the country's western and southern districts, has turned into a dumping ground for waste, with neither Dhaka North city nor Savar municipality accepting responsibility.
Along a five-kilometre stretch from Aminbazar to Boliarpur bus stand, piles of garbage have appeared at more than ten spots, some spilling onto the road itself.
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Ironically, the indiscriminate dumping is taking place beside the Aminbazar landfill, where Dhaka North City Corporation disposes of more than 4,000 tonnes of waste daily through over 800 truck trips.
When questioned why waste was being left along the highway, Dhaka North officials denied involvement and blamed the Savar municipality. The municipality, however, also denied responsibility.
A visit to the site on Thursday (2 October) revealed heaps of rotting waste spilling onto the road and spreading a strong stench across nearby neighbourhoods.
In several places, pedestrians and vehicles had to navigate around the trash that had encroached onto the highway.
The most affected area lies in front of the Aminbazar power grid substation, where nearly 200 metres of roadside are lined with refuse.
The piles, often dumped at night, cover parts of the highway and spill into an adjacent waterbody, creating foul odours, attracting flies, and posing health risks to nearby residents.
"Every night, garbage trucks come and unload here under the cover of darkness. This has been going on for four to five months. We complained to the authorities, but no one listened. We hear influential groups are using this dumping to fill up wetlands for future land grabbing," said one resident, requesting anonymity.
"I have lived in Aminbazar for 28 years. Never before did we see such open dumping. In the last four months, garbage has made our homes unlivable. The city corporation's yellow trucks unload here even when we protest," said another resident, Shah Alam.
With each rain shower, sludge from the waste seeps into the ground and drains, raising fears of water contamination. For commuters, the stench is inescapable along the Dhaka–Aricha corridor.
Prof Dr Md Faruk Hossain, head of psychiatry at Enam Medical College, who regularly travels along the route, said, "Garbage is being dumped indiscriminately along both sides of the highway, often encroaching onto the tarmac. The result is not only a severe environmental and public health hazard but also a distressing experience for travellers. The stench is overwhelming, and the general condition has made journeys through this stretch exceedingly unpleasant and, at times, nearly intolerable."
The lack of enforcement and waste management efforts in this area is gravely disappointing and is affecting tens of thousands of citizens every day
He added, "The lack of enforcement and waste management efforts in this area is gravely disappointing and is affecting tens of thousands of citizens every day."
A tale of two authorities passing blame
Harunur Rashid, scale man at Dhaka North's Aminbazar landfill, told The Business Standard, "Our landfill receives all waste from Dhaka North areas properly. Over 800 trips unload here daily. There is no reason to dump outside. The roadside garbage must be coming from Savar municipality."
Dhaka North's waste management superintendent engineer SM Shafiqur Rahman said, "None of our vehicles dump on the roadside. Our checks found that Savar municipality is responsible for the highway dumping. We have warned them verbally, and now we will issue formal notices and impose fines."
Although Aminbazar union is under Savar upazila, the municipality, however, rejected the allegation and pointed the finger back at Dhaka North.
Savar Municipality Administrator Md Abubaker Sarkar told The Business Standard, "It is true we lack a dedicated landfill. But we have designated land in Birulia where we dump. We do not use the highway. The problem is that trucks come at night, making it hard to trace. To stop this, Dhaka North City, Savar Municipality, Roads and Highways, and the administration must act together. If landowners allow dumping on their plots, we cannot stop it alone."
If landowners allow dumping on their plots, we cannot stop it alone
Environmentalists warn that uncontrolled dumping not only pollutes the air but also contaminates soil and water. Aminbazar already houses Dhaka's largest landfill, and additional open dumping threatens to turn its surroundings into a toxic zone.
"The waste mixing into nearby waterbodies will degrade aquatic life and seep into groundwater. Over time, this will affect public health, causing skin diseases, diarrhoea, and long-term toxic exposure," said Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman at Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS).
According to the environmental expert, wetlands around Dhaka serve as natural buffers against flooding, and dumping garbage into them reduces water retention capacity, worsening the city's waterlogging problem.
Traffic and safety hazards
The Dhaka–Aricha highway is one of the busiest inter-district roads, carrying thousands of vehicles daily.
Garbage piles not only narrow the lanes but also force sudden swerves, increasing the risk of accidents.
Long-distance bus drivers frequently complain about hazardous conditions, particularly at night.
"When headlights hit the garbage, it reflects oddly. It's risky for high-speed buses," said Shimul, a driver on the Gabtoli–Paturia route.
This is not the first time Dhaka's peripheries have turned into unofficial dumping zones.
Other areas, including Jatrabari, Demra, and Uttarkhan, have seen similar incidents, where garbage trucks, often belonging to city corporations, unload waste in open fields or wetlands to save time or costs.
Each time, authorities have issued denials but failed to fix the systemic problem.
