After the death of Naeem Hasan, a student of Notre Dame College, a report published in Prothom Alo in November 2021 showed that security guards, office assistants, cleaners and cleaners were driving the garbage trucks of two city corporations of Dhaka. They are driving heavy vehicles by ‘managing’ the officials of the transport department leaving their own work. Most of them do not have license to drive heavy vehicles. Even though such incidents are happening year after year, the city corporation is not taking any action despite knowing it.
Speaking to the officials of the transport pool and waste management branch of the two city corporations of Dhaka, it is known that there is still a shortage of skilled drivers. Some drivers have been hired in the two cities over the past few years. However, the number of cars is still more than the number of drivers.
In view of the students’ movement, on 27 November 2021, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) decided to stop the operation of garbage trucks during the day. Instructions are given to carry out waste removal work between 10 pm and 7 am. However, the DNCC authorities have cleared the responsibility with the announcement. Even during the day, waste transport vehicles are plying on various streets of the capital.
On the other hand, the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas, three months after assuming office, gave instructions to collect garbage from houses in the evening in August 2020. According to the instructions, the overall work of waste collection in the Dhaka South City Corporation area was supposed to be completed between six in the evening and six in the morning. But this instruction is not being followed in many wards.
Tags: years lives lost city corporations reckless garbage trucks
