A photo published in The Daily Star on July 13 shows pitch-black sewage substances spread over the road near the Mayor Hanif Flyover in the capital's Donia area. It is reported that the cleaners left the wastes on the road after extraction from a nearby sewer. The air of the whole area has been filled with foul odour. It is also posing a serious threat to public health. It clearly indicates the complete disregard of the city authorities for public suffering. 

But this is not an exceptional case. In many places of the city we see similar pictures of dumping of garbage and sewage wastes on roads and footpaths. Moreover, city-wide repair and construction works of utility lines followed by road digging leave heaps of mud, brick chips and other construction materials on the roads. And the situation turns worse during rainy days. Heavy pouring washes away wastes into water-logged roads and people have to commute through these dirty waters risking contamination of infectious and water-borne diseases. 

Numerous reports about such sufferings of the city people have been published over the years. A lot have been said about the solutions of these problems. But very little has improved. It seems city people have become hostage to the whims and disregards of city authorities and utility providers. Is there no one to respond to the desperate condition of the suffering city-dwellers?