Dhaka–Aricha Highway, one of the country’s main roads connecting the capital with western and southern districts, has turned into an open dumping ground, posing serious threats to public health and the environment.
During recent visit, this correspondent found large piles of decomposing waste lining both sides of the highway from Aminbazar to Boliarpur. Areas such as Aminbazar, Genda, Nabinagar, Hemayetpur and Boliarpur were particularly affected. Waste includes household garbage, plastic, medical refuse, industrial by-products and even animal carcasses.
In several locations, garbage has spilled onto the highway shoulder, forcing pedestrians to walk dangerously close to fast-moving vehicles. Drivers often slow down due to the unbearable stench and black wastewater leaking from the piles, creating hazardous road conditions and increasing the risk of accidents.
Health and environmental risks
At Aminbazar alone, around 200 to 300 metres of roadside land are littered with waste. Locals said black leachate from the garbage flows into nearby canals and eventually drains into the Turag River, posing serious threats to surface water, aquatic life and groundwater quality.
Asif, a shopkeeper in Savar’s market area, said his business has suffered significantly. “Wastewater enters my shop almost every day. Goods get damaged, and customers avoid the area because of the smell,” he said.
Environmentalists warn that open dumping in densely populated areas creates ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other disease vectors. Alamgir Kabir, secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), said the area has become vulnerable to outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya and skin diseases. He also warned that burning plastic waste releases toxic fumes that can cause respiratory illnesses and long-term health complications.
Industrial and food waste
Savar hosts hundreds of garment factories and industrial units, including food-processing plants. Locals allege that some factories dump untreated waste along the roadside to avoid disposal fees and regulatory scrutiny.
Expired biscuits, cakes and other food items from bakeries and food factories were also found dumped in open spaces, attracting stray animals and birds and increasing the risk of contamination and disease transmission.
Environmentalist Prof Shafi Muhammad Tareq described roadside dumping as a clear sign of systemic failure. “Dumping waste beside a highway means the entire waste management system has collapsed. Leachate contaminates rivers and groundwater, and air pollution in the area is severe,” he said.
Land-grabbing allegations
Residents in Aminbazar alleged that dumping is also being used as a tactic to grab public land. “First, waste is dumped to make the land unusable. Later it is filled with sand, and small structures like tea stalls are built,” said one resident, requesting anonymity. An extended portion of a filling station and several makeshift stalls have recently appeared on land. Residents claim it was once used as dumping ground.
Aminbazar landfill paradox
Much of the dumping occurs near the Aminbazar landfill, where Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) disposes of over 4,000 tonnes of waste daily through more than 850 truck trips. Commuter Md Mithun said dumping happens almost every day. “The stench and leachate make riding dangerous. The road feels like a dumping ground,” he said.
DNCC officials denied responsibility and blamed Savar municipality, while Savar authorities rejected the claim, saying investigations are ongoing.
Officials from the Roads and Highways Department called roadside dumping along a major highway unacceptable and stressed the need for coordinated action. Experts warn that without a planned landfill for Savar, strict monitoring of industrial waste and strong enforcement of environmental laws, the situation is likely to worsen.
