Mahir Uddin lives in Dhaira Uttarpara area of Dhamrail upazila in Dhaka. His house is next to a road, which is used to go Sutipara from Suapur in the upazila. He cannot open the windows of his house during the day and night. Cracks and holes have been created on the road due to movement of soil-laden trucks, which are used to carry soil for Brick kilns.
Dust is being generated from the potholes and muds, fallen from trucks.
During movement of vehicles, the dust flies with air and comes to their houses.
Not only Mahir Uddin's family but also locals and pedestrians are suffering from dust in different areas of the upazila.
His wife said that though they do not open windows, dust enters their house through the door and various gaps in the house. They need to sweep their house after a while to clean dust.
“There is dust everywhere.. Dust is on the bed… even there is dust on our plate, when we sit to eat,” she said.
All their sufferings are due to the dust pollution.
Where does dust come from?
Roads from Dhulivita to Fordnagar in Dhamrai, Jaipura to Jalsingh, Sutipara to Nannar, Jaipura to Depashai are full of potholes.
As road carpeting has washed away in different parts of these roads, dust is constantly being created due to the pressure of wheels of the heavy vehicles.
Talking to locals, it was learned that more than hundreds of trucks, drum trucks, Mahendra, filled with soil for brick kilns, move 24 hours a day and night on these roads.
Due to the movement of these vehicles, potholes have been created at various places on the road.
Md Sharif Uddin, a resident of Depashai village, said that haphazard conditions have been created on the roads due to the movement of mud trucks day and night.
The carpeting of the road has gone up, now the bottom brick is crumbling under the wheels of the truck. While walking on the side of the road, the face changes in the brick dust and soil dust, he said.
Everything under blanket of dust
Residents of the areas in Dhamarai upazila have been experiencing a much poorer air quality in the area due to dust pollution.
Dhaka TribuneDuring a recent visit, it was seen that there are around 150 illegal and legal brick kilns in the upazila where preparation is going on in full swing to make bricks. Soil is being carried constantly to these kilns, which have been built illegally in localities, crop lands and other places.
Reddish dust has blanketed the houses and crops fields next to the roads. To protect from dust, the grocery and food shops on the roadside have been surrounded with cloth.
Besides, green leaves and branches are covered with reddish dust.
Farmer Daud Uddin, a resident of the Jalsingh area, said: “Who will listen to us? I have planted maize in the field which is now covered with dust. The mud trucks wreak havoc on us.. It happens every year during this time.. No one dares to say anything.”
From Kawalipara to Balia in the upazila, 10-12 feet high mud banks are seen on the side of the road at different places.
In some areas, soil is also kept encroaching on some parts of the road. The same picture is seen along the roads from Srirampur to Suapur Bazar, Rajan area. The dust generated from soil is spread through the air. In addition, when it rains, the soil rolls down the road and creates potholes. The road became dangerous.
All residents in suffering
Locals are constantly suffering due to dust. Apart from this, there is suppressed anger among school-college students, working men and women and businessmen traveling on the road.
Shahidul Islam, a seventh grade student of Principal Hafiz Uddin School and College of Kawalipara area, goes to school by bicycle every day.
Dhaka TribuneHe said that school dress cannot be worn for more than one day. After going home from school, they need to wash their hair with shampoo first. Hair and clothes become dirty in the dust.
Sohel Rana, who goes to his office in Savar from Madarpur upazila riding on his motorcycle, said that during this time of the year, the road becomes dangerous due to mud trucks covering different parts of the road. Due to the dust, the road becomes slippery when it rains. Accidents often happen then.
Saleh Ahmed Khan, president of Botany department of Jahangirnagar University, said: "If dust and sand are covered on plants and crops, it disrupts the photosynthesis process of plants. Naturally, it reduces crop production as well as damage to plants.
Dhamrai Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Noor Riffat Ara said: "Rather than sand, the dust that is created by the brick chips is causing various health problems. Due to that dust, the number of patients with respiratory problems has increased in the hospital. Young children are becoming ill for cold-related lung infections. Besides, children below one year old are being brought to the hospital with problems related to unwillingness to take food due to nasal blockage due to dust.”
Dhamrai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Hossain Mohammed Hye Joki said: 'We are conducting regular operations against illegal brick kilns. The concerned have been directed to ensure that no public inconvenience is created during the operation of legal brick kilns. If anyone is affected by their activities, action will be taken if a complaint is received.”