The government has launched a nationwide initiative to establish designated dumping yards in all 330 municipalities to address critical waste management failures.
To implement this plan, the Local Government Division has directed Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to identify and allocate government-owned "khas" land within or near municipal areas. Currently, a significant number of municipalities lack planned disposal sites, leading to waste being dumped in open spaces, roadsides, and water bodies. This practice has triggered widespread environmental pollution, waterlogging, and public health risks.
The initiative follows a June 7 high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, where an action plan was demanded to curb pollution. Following this, the Local Government Division issued instructions on June 17 for DCs to provide land initially through one-year leases to allow immediate use while permanent allocations are finalized.
While many municipalities have long cited land shortages as a barrier to proper waste disposal, some are now seeking alternative solutions. For example, the Kaliganj Municipality is requesting approval to purchase private land where suitable government land is unavailable. Meanwhile, in Bagerhat, work has already begun to establish a solid waste management yard on 1.5 acres of land
