The three important entry points to Tangail town have become dumping grounds of town waste, causing immense sufferings to ordinary people and commuters.

Indiscriminate dumping of waste at these entry points is causing serious environmental pollution. These entry points are: the Tangai–Mymensingh Road in the Rabna Bypass area, the entrance to the town from the north; the Tangail–Aricha Road in the Kagmari Baby Stand area, the entrance to the town from the south; and the Dhaka–Tangail highway at the Ashequepur bypass.

Tangail municipality was established in 1887. At present, about two lakh people live under the municipal area. But the municipality has failed to develop a modern waste management system.  

Sources say about 65–70 tonnes of waste, including household and industrial waste, are generated in the municipality daily. But the civic body has the capacity to remove only 50–55 tonnes of garbage a day. Out of 18 wards, the waste generated by 10 wards can be fully removed. But the garbage of three wards is removed partially. The waste of the remaining five wards cannot be disposed of.

Waste management is an important responsibility of a municipal authority as per the Local Government Act of 2009. But the law is being ignored by the Tangail municipal authorities.

The bad odour coming out of the dumpsed waste heaps is unhealthy for locals and commuters. Sometimes, the waste materials catch fire. The black smoke pollutes the environment and a pungent smell stays in the locality for some days.

The picture is the same at the Baby Stand and at Ashequepur. The teachers and students of Moulana Bhashani University of Science and Technology and Moulana Mohammad Ali Government College have to pass the Baby Stand area through the filth of the dumping area.

Abdullah Al-Mamun, a student of Baby Stand Graveyard Madrasha, said: “Many students stay at the madrasha and orphanage. We have to face a lot of problems because of the foul smell.”

Sheikh Md Rouson Alam, a student of the Nagorpur Government College, said: “I live by the side of Baby Stand. I have to live amid pollution and bad smell. Locals have been facing a lot of problems. We have been requesting the municipal authorities to relocate the dumping ground. But they pay no attention to our request.”

Goutam Chandra Chanda, a senior research officer of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (BELA) of Tangail district unit, said: “The prime responsibilities of the municipality are to clean the city by proper waste management. But they are dumping waste indiscriminately, violating the environment protection laws.”

Jamilur Rahman Miron, mayor of Tangail municipality, said: “We have plans to develop a modern waste management system. We are developing and expanding the roads under the municipality. We have been seeking land from the deputy commissioner of Tangail since 2004. But it has not been allotted yet. Our waste management work will start soon.”