Rajshahi's shine dims: Once a model city, now losing its lustre

Beyond its ancient history and heritage, Rajshahi has long been celebrated as a model of cleanliness and serenity. The city's modern, spacious roads and well-maintained footpaths offer residents a delightful walking experience, complemented by seasonal blooms adorning road dividers and pathways.

Rajshahi's charm was once heightened by its global reputation as a haven of clean air, and its brightly lit streets at night cast an enchanting glow. Perhaps the most cherished feature of Rajshahi, nestled along the banks of the Padma River, is the breathtaking view of the river's natural beauty. Iconic spots such as the T-Badh and I-Badh embankments remain popular destinations for those seeking leisure and tranquillity.

However, the Rajshahi once known as the "green city," "clean city," "healthy city," and "education city" now struggles to maintain this illustrious legacy. Years of unplanned infrastructural development have tarnished its image, leaving residents disheartened by the city's gradual decline. Locals lament the loss of order, attributing the deterioration to a series of missteps by the previous administration. Once famed for its clean air, Rajshahi is now grappling with rising pollution levels.

Ancient trees, once symbols of the city's greenery, have been felled, ponds and reservoirs have been filled in, and autorickshaws have proliferated unchecked. The bus terminal, inconveniently located in the city centre, further worsens an already chaotic traffic system, exacerbated by the influence of the bus owners' association.

Adding to these woes, the city's cleaning operations have dwindled due to a significant reduction in manpower. As a result, residents are left questioning whether their beloved Rajshahi can ever reclaim its former glory.

According to the Rajshahi City Corporation, it is the only city corporation in the country where household waste is directly collected by corporation vans, and roads are cleaned each evening. The collected waste is stored at 18 secondary transfer stations across the city before being transported at night to the City Haat area on the outskirts for disposal.

However, the layoff of approximately 100 sanitation workers following the government changeover in August has hampered the corporation's cleaning efforts, leaving just 1,313 workers to manage the city's upkeep. Consequently, waste is left scattered throughout the city, and the 350 to 400 tonnes of waste produced daily are being dumped untreated in the City Haat area, contaminating agricultural land and rivers during rainfall.

Another pressing issue is the overload of rickshaws. While the city has licences for 10,000 autorickshaws and 5,000 rickshaws, over 25,000 vehicles now operate, leading to severe traffic congestion. Moreover, the city's roads are riddled with potholes that remain unrepaired.
Jamat Khan, general secretary of the Rajshahi Rokkha Songram Parishad (Rajshahi Protection Struggle Council), said, "There is no order in Rajshahi due to the absence of public representatives. This disorder has caused numerous issues: the city is not being cleaned, vehicles are flouting regulations, footpaths have been encroached upon, and congestion is worsening."

He added, "The trees on footpaths and road dividers are no longer being watered regularly. Foul odours spread from uncleaned drains, mosquito infestations are on the rise, and construction waste is being indiscriminately dumped, leading to increased air pollution."
Khan called for long-term planning: "The various city corporation committees need to be made effective, and citizens should be more involved. During elections, representatives make promises, but after being elected, they forget the concerns of the people. Flyovers, drains, and other infrastructure are being constructed without adequate planning, while ponds and reservoirs are filled in. This must stop."
Anthropologist Shahidul Islam, regional coordinator of the Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge, remarked, "Having worked in Rajshahi for over a decade, I have observed that there is no housing system for slum dwellers. According to data from 2014, there are 104 slums in Rajshahi, yet no housing is available for these residents."

He added, "They lack access to basic utilities such as water and electricity. These fundamental rights should be provided. A modern city must ensure housing and basic amenities for all."

Islam also noted, "In the last decade, the city's oldest trees have been felled in the name of development, and ponds and reservoirs have been filled in. Measures should be taken to create housing for marginalised groups and to improve the city's natural environment."
Mahbub Tunku, convener of the Poribesh Andolon Oikkyo Parishad (Environment Movement United Council), raised concerns over waterlogging during the rainy season and a declining water table in summer.

"Many of Rajshahi WASA's machines are unable to pump water effectively. There are no clear plans to address this issue in government development policies, and instead, unplanned infrastructural development continues. Our policymakers must decide whether Rajshahi will focus on labour-intensive industries, service-oriented industries, or education and healthcare. Rajshahi, with its agricultural proximity, should focus on agriculture and education. Enhancing healthcare infrastructure is also crucial, as people from surrounding areas travel here for medical treatment," he said.

Ahmed Shafiuddin, president of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Rajshahi, stated that although Rajshahi boasts wide, expansive roads, its traffic system remains fragile.

"Vehicles stop anywhere, and there are no traffic signals. Navigating the city is challenging due to the abundance of autorickshaws, and CNG stands are still present within the city. Although a bus terminal was constructed in the Naodapara area, bus stands have not been moved from Saheb Bazar and Bhadra. These areas are now severely congested, and roads in the Railgate, Shiroil, and Bhadra areas are gradually becoming hazardous. Bus and CNG stands should be relocated to Naodapara," he said.

He added, "Rajshahi's development has focused too heavily on Saheb Bazar, leading to overcrowding. Walking from Saheb Bazar Zero Point to Moni Chattar is now difficult. The city must expand, and hygienic markets must be established in various locations to reduce dependence on Saheb Bazar. A master plan should be implemented to curb unplanned urbanisation."
Shafiuddin also observed that Rajshahi lacks tasteful, hygienic public toilets: "Proper public toilets, especially for women, need to be constructed."

River researcher Mahbub Siddique, president of Heritage Rajshahi, pointed out that Rajshahi is now plagued by unprecedented traffic jams, a problem that did not exist just months ago. This is due to an influx of unlicensed vehicles and road closures for unplanned city development.
"Urgent measures are needed to complete pending projects and reduce congestion. The former mayor received Tk3,000 crore for Rajshahi's development but allocated none for slum housing, despite these residents contributing significantly to the city's operations. Budget provisions for slum housing must be prioritised," he said.

He added, "Waterlogging occurs at 125 points in the city after just 30 minutes of continuous rainfall, and it takes 4–5 hours for the water to recede. These problems stem from errors in road construction and the drainage system, which must be identified and rectified."
Rajshahi was once recognised globally for significantly reducing airborne particulate matter harmful to human health. However, despite being lauded for its air quality in 2016, the city now struggles with air and noise pollution.

Daily Air Quality Index reports categorise Rajshahi's air as "very unhealthy," and noise pollution has surpassed 90 decibels—far above the recommended 70–75 decibels. Voluntary organisations have called for planting large trees to combat both air and noise pollution.

Engineer Md Zakir Hossain Khan, president of Rajshahi's Varendra Poribesh Unnayan Swechhasebi Sangstha (Barind Environment Development Voluntary Organisation), proposed addressing noise pollution by restricting vehicles from using loud horns: "Air horns have a limited range, while TT horns affect a wider area. Steps must also be taken to prevent empty vehicles from stopping to pick up passengers in busy areas like Saheb Bazar, Lakshmipur, and Railgate. To reduce air pollution, we must enforce policies and plant more large trees."

Professor Abdullah Al Maruf of Rajshahi University's Department of Geography and Environmental Studies commented, "The shade and comfort provided by large trees are incomparable to those offered by smaller trees. For clean air, planting large trees is indispensable. Rajshahi's green cover has declined by 20% since 1999, which is deeply concerning."

Rajshahi, once a beacon of beauty and order, now faces the challenge of balancing development with sustainability. Residents remain hopeful that, with thoughtful planning and swift action, their beloved city can regain its former splendour.

Sketch: TBS