Why is Rajshahi city losing its clean, green, healthy image fast?

Rajshahi's streets, once celebrated for their cleanliness and fresh air, are now riddled with potholes and dust, with filth scattered across the city. Footpaths, meant for pedestrians, are often obstructed, and traffic jams have become a daily ordeal. Trees along road dividers stand lifeless, and the city is constantly filled with the blaring horns of vehicles. Experts attribute this decline to unplanned development, a shortage of skilled administrators, and poor coordination. Today, Rajshahi is widely recognized as a city struggling with air and noise pollution, broken roads, and unclean surroundings.

Residents blame successive poor policies for eroding the city's reputation and charm. Unplanned development has transformed a city once known for its pure air into one choked with pollution. Over the past few years, many ancient trees have been cut down, ponds and water bodies filled, and auto-rickshaws allowed to multiply without regulation. Bus terminals remain inside the city, adding to congestion, as authorities have failed to relocate them due to the influence of bus owners' associations. Reduced manpower has further limited effective sanitation operations, leaving the city increasingly unkempt.

Investigations reveal that most major roads are full of potholes, causing frequent minor accidents. Since the government change on 5 August 2024, many of these roads have not been repaired, leading to large craters and uneven surfaces. At the same time, the long-term, unplanned construction of four flyovers has aggravated traffic congestion and worsened air pollution. Dust from construction zones has made commuting hazardous, and slow progress has allowed excess vehicles—particularly rickshaws and auto-rickshaws—to crowd the streets further.

City officials say measures are now underway to address these problems. Ahmad Al Moin, Acting Chief Engineer of Rajshahi City Corporation, confirmed that road renovations from Talaimari through Bhadra to the Shiroil Bus Terminal have been completed, with remaining work set to begin soon. Three flyovers are expected to be finished by June, with another nearing completion, which should reduce public inconvenience.

Despite its current state, Rajshahi's fame was historically built on cleanliness and livability. Wide, modern roads and pedestrian-friendly footpaths were once a source of civic pride, enhanced by seasonal flowers along dividers and sidewalks. The city drew admiration not only for its fresh air but also for its scenic riverside along the Padma, including T-Bandh and I-Bandh, which remain popular spots for leisure and recreation. However, in the past year and a half, these features have deteriorated. Trash piles up along streets, riverside footpaths remain neglected, and waste dumped untreated in the outskirts flows into agricultural land and canals during rains. Most drains are clogged, and even cleaned waste is often left on the streets for days, spreading germs. Footpaths are frequently obstructed, manhole covers stolen, and pedestrians are increasingly at risk of accidents.

Sanitation operations continue, but challenges remain. Sheikh Md. Mamun, Chief Sanitation Officer, noted that 1,265 workers collect household and commercial waste daily, cleaning streets day and night. Waste is first gathered at 17 secondary transfer stations before being transported to City Hat on the outskirts. Even so, the city produces 350–400 metric tons of waste every day from homes, restaurants, roads, and footpaths, underscoring the scale of the challenge.

Traffic congestion remains a persistent issue. Although the City Corporation has issued licenses for 8,970 auto-rickshaws and 5,819 rickshaws, over 25,000 vehicles operate in the city, causing severe jams. Residents allege that multiple vehicles operate on a single license, and authorities have done little to enforce regulations. Ongoing flyover construction, especially at Baharampur-Bilsimla, Bandh Gate, and Rail Gate, has further restricted traffic flow for more than two years. Additionally, bus terminals remain in the city center, creating jams due to passenger boarding and alighting.

Civic activists highlight the broader consequences of mismanagement. Jamat Khan of the Rajshahi Raksha Sangram Parishad explained that the absence of elected city representatives has left Rajshahi without order. Unplanned development, obstructed footpaths, and poor waste management have created a congested, unhygienic urban environment. Dirty drains emit foul odors, mosquito infestations are on the rise, and construction debris contributes to worsening air pollution. What was once a Green, Clean, and Healthy City is rapidly losing its defining characteristics.

Shahidul Islam of the Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge emphasized that a modern city is defined by modern waste management. In Rajshahi, dumping untreated waste into rivers contaminates farmland, undermining agriculture. Slum residents are deprived of basic services, with many lacking electricity, water connections, and proper housing. Meanwhile, Ahmed Shafiuddin of Citizen for Good Governance noted that, despite wide roads, traffic management is fragile, with vehicles stopping randomly and no traffic signals in place. Auto-rickshaws dominate streets, CNG stands remain inside the city, and bus terminals have not been relocated, all of which worsen congestion. He argued that traffic hubs should be moved to Nowdapara and the city should be decentralized to reduce population pressure around Saheb Bazar. Health-compliant markets and proper master planning are needed to curb unplanned urbanization, while public toilets—particularly for women—must be established.

Once ranked the world's best city for reducing harmful airborne particles in 2016, according to WHO data cited by The Guardian, Rajshahi now faces severe air and noise pollution. Air quality measurements classify the city's atmosphere as highly unhealthy, with noise levels exceeding 95 decibels, well above the safe 60–70 decibels. Volunteer organizations recommend planting large trees to reduce pollution and managing construction materials to improve air quality. Md. Zakir Hossain Khan, president of Barendra Environmental Development Volunteers, highlighted the need to replace high-frequency TT horns with frequency-limited Vepu horns and restrict vehicles from stopping unnecessarily in busy areas.

Environmental experts also stress the importance of large trees for both shade and air quality. Prof. Abdulyah Al Maruf of Rajshahi University noted that large trees provide comfort and have significant economic value, yet the city has lost 20% of its green cover since 1999—a worrying decline for a city once famed as a clean and healthy urban center.

Sketch: TBS

Bulbul Habib is the Rajshahi Correspondent for The Business Standard.