CHAPAINAWABGANJ, MAR 10 (V7N) — A serious environmental hazard is unfolding in the Atahar area of Jhelim Union, where industrial and poultry farm waste is being illegally dumped at night, severely affecting the local community. Residents report an overpowering stench, declining soil fertility, and contaminated water sources, yet authorities have not taken action.

Local sources allege that Naba Poultry Farm in Rajshahi has been secretly disposing of waste in the area using large drum trucks late at night. This has resulted in devastated croplands, pollution of water sources, and significant health risks for residents.

"These trucks arrive between 1 AM and 3 AM, and those involved carry weapons. We’re too afraid to stop them," one resident shared anonymously.

A farmer named Amin (65) expressed his frustration: "We wake up to find piles of waste on our farmlands. The unbearable smell makes life difficult, yet our local representatives remain indifferent."

The constant dumping of toxic waste has created an increasingly dangerous situation. With the rainy season approaching, residents fear further contamination of land and water, making their homes and fields unlivable.

Another local, Shahadat, emphasized the widespread nature of the problem: "Dumping is happening everywhere—Nayagola, Jamtala, Naynagar. The soil is losing its fertility, and water is changing color. Yet, no one is stopping it."

Despite strict environmental laws, enforcement is almost nonexistent. The Bangladesh Environmental Protection Act (1995, amended 2010) strictly prohibits such practices, with penalties including fines and imprisonment. However, officials have yet to take action.

Md. Abu Sayeed, Assistant Director of the Department of Environment in Chapainawabganj, acknowledged that "no formal complaints have been received."

Similarly, Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Mosha Tashmina Khatun stated: "We have not been informed of such incidents. If complaints were filed, we could take action."

The residents of Atahar are urging the authorities to intervene without delay. Their demands include: Immediate action to halt illegal waste disposal,Legal consequences for those responsible,Restoration of damaged farmlands,Implementation of measures to safeguard public health

With unregulated waste disposal, government inaction, and environmental degradation, Chapainawabganj faces a deepening ecological crisis. The pressing question remains: Will anyone take responsibility before irreversible damage is done?