Filth at the front door

Every day, hundreds of patients visit the Prithimpassa Family Welfare Centre in Robirbazar under Moulvibazar’s Kulaura upazila, seeking relief and recovery, only to be greeted by a towering garbage mound, festering just steps from its entrance.

Visiting recently, this correspondent observed waste, including plastic, polythene, rotting food scraps and other trash, being dumped freely in an open space adjacent to the centre.

Rahela Begum, who had travelled from Muroichhara in Kulaura with hopes of getting better, said the overwhelming stench from the garbage piled high beside the health centre made her feel worse instead.

Kamal Miah, who had accompanied his ailing mother from a remote village, echoed her.

The root of the crisis is the absence of a clearly demarcated boundary for the government land on which the centre stands. As such, there have been attempts to encroach on the government land, while the open space has become an informal dumping ground for market waste.

“We have repeatedly demanded that the administration demarcate the centre’s boundaries, build a boundary wall, prevent illegal encroachment and remove the garbage, but no step has been taken yet,” said Sadek Hosain, a local resident.

Hasan Al Mahmud Raju, a local community leader, said the situation has been persisting for the past six to seven years, only deteriorating over time, and posing health risks for the very people seeking treatment at the health centre.

Shirina Khatun, the centre’s deputy assistant community medical officer, said, “People from the market are littering here. The traders’ association president has been informed, but no effective action has been taken.”

Masuk Ahmed, president of Robirbazar Traders’ Association, said they had made repeated efforts to curb indiscriminate waste dumping near the centre and raise public awareness, alongside personally warning traders and locals.

However, a section of people continued to litter regardless, especially since the market’s designated waste disposal site is some distance away, he added.

He recommended adequate allocation for waste management and identifying those responsible for the menace from CCTV footage after reactivating the market’s surveillance system.

Jerin Akhter, acting upazila health and family planning officer at Kulaura Upazila Health Complex, said various initiatives had been taken, including a visit by the district civil surgeon and meetings with market authorities, but the problem remains unresolved.

She said she would write to the authorities concerned again seeking a prompt solution.