Keeping Dhaka clean ought to be a priority
More worryingly,
this obnoxious habit is
contributing to
environmental problems. As the capital has expanded both horizontally and vertically with its burgeoning
population, it is also
confronted with a
myriad of problems
The inhabitants of the city do not care a fig to keep the city neat and clean. An agency report carried by this newspaper on Saturday presented a dismal picture of how the capital Dhaka is bearing the brunt of indiscriminate throwing of plastic bags, papers, tissue papers, cigarette butts, fruit skins and other things. This practice appears to have spread fast among the people of all strata. It is not only happening in areas inhabited by poor communities, it is also happening in posh areas where affluent people live. Many of these people certainly have seen how roads and pavements are kept clean in foreign lands, but in their native country they just flout the rules, which is very unfortunate.
In many developed countries it is mandatory to keep roads, thoroughfares, pavements, parks and other public places tidy. Violators of rules relating to cleanliness have to face music in those countries. So, none dares to disobey them. But unfortunately, in our country in the absence of stringent rules and vigilance people behave recklessly in this regard. There is nothing to be surprised when empty food boxes and soft drink bottles get tossed through the windows of buses, minibuses, posh cars and other vehicles. More worryingly, this obnoxious habit is contributing to environmental problems. As the capital has expanded both horizontally and vertically with its burgeoning population, it is also confronted with a myriad of problems.
When educated people are devoid of civic sense and behave irresponsibly, what about the others who are deprived of the light of education? These people do not hesitate to ease themselves here and there standing near the roads and pavements not thinking the least that it might pose problems for others. There are many places in the city where the wayfarers have to press handkerchiefs on their noses due to the stinking smell of urine. The place below the overpass at the busy Farmgate area is one of them.
There are some dustbins in the city which are not cleaned on a regular basis. As a result, foul smell pollutes the environment. It is the responsibility of the city corporations to clean those regularly, but they are failing to do it. More dustbins and garbage disposal places should be set up in the city without delay.
For keeping Dhaka clean, the overall mindset of the people needs to change. Awareness should be generated among people to keep environment neat and clean. The law enforcing agencies, environmentalists as well as the civil society can also play a vital role in this regard.
