Law Through The Lens

We are extremely charitable when it comes to taking care of rubbish. We give it away at the earliest opportunity. Middle of road, windows, parking lots, bus stops, you name it, disposable plastic bottles, food items and all kinds of materials are up for grabs by the 'tokai' wondering around to pick it up and sell it to the recyclers. It's not a question of economic or social class, the bank executive sitting in his chauffer driven car  and the peon taking a bus ride to his workplace, both equally think it just and proper to throw away their junk in the middle of the road. It's a question of culture and we need to change it. Having no public bins at convenient places on the road side is not helping the cause. Most developed cities have bins conveniently located at public places.

Installing pubic bins on street corners is a positive step but one of pilot projects like this cannot bring out a change in culture so deeply ingrained in us. What is needed is a concerted effort comprising of public awareness, installation of bins on public places and imposition of strict penalty for the few not ready to let go of the old ways. It is a difficult job, but not entirely impossible if there is proper planning. The City Corporations has a mandate under the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009 to collect, dispose of and manage garbage throughout its territory. In that respect we expect the newly elected mayors of Dhaka City Corporations to make a start  by spearheading a 'clean the streets' campaign and set it as an example for the other City Corporations to follow.

Nabil Ahsan, Law Desk Contributor, is an amateur photographer and advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh.