Chittagong University. Students walk past solid waste, inset, at 2 No Gate on the university campus. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

The picturesque Chittagong University (CU) is losing its beauty due to badly managed disposal of waste on the campus.
The solid waste is increasing as number of people including students, teachers, officials and employees increasing on the university campus.
To accommodate them, many residences and structures have been built on the campus since its inception in 1966.
Wastes are being dumped in the open spaces polluting the environment as well as causing damage to the scenic beauty of the university, said Prof Dr Mohammad Kamal Hossain of the Institute. These wastes create infestation of flies, mosquitoes, various harmful virus and bacteria.
Dr Kamal said the university authorities should divide the campus for waste disposal and supply adequate dustbins. Perishable waste may turn into the compost and imperishable waste such as papers, plastic, glass, ceramic and metals can be recycled, he added.
Dr Alok Pal, chairman of the Geography and Environmental Studies, said due to scattered disposal of organic as well as inorganic wastes, panoramic beauty of campus is corroding. Dr Pal said there is no designated dumping point on the campus.
Everybody disposes waste here and there inconsiderately destroying the beauty of the campus, he added.
He urged the university authorities to set up specific dumping points on the campus and monitor it.
Dr Pal emphasised the need for change in attitude of all to stop the indiscriminate disposal of waste on the campus.
There are 12 colonies, six staff quarters, three residential areas, and ten students' dormitories. Around 10,000 people including students, teachers, officials and employees reside on the campus, sources said.
These large number of people litter on the campus daily threatening the environment.
A research conducted by Md Auhidur Rahman, a student of Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, found that the university produces nearly 1509kgs waste a day. Of which, 33 percent is produced in colonies, 24 percent in residential halls, 13 percent in various hotels and restaurants, 11 percent in residential areas, seven percent in various faculties and two percent in various offices.
There are over 22,000 students under six faculties of the university, one college and three schools. They produce 78.71kg waste a day on an average and most of them are papers, books and printed matters.
Around 600 people live in the three residential areas and produce 162.22kg waste a day. Of which, 71 percent comes from vegetables and food. A total of 363.97kgs of waste is produced at 10 residential halls -- 87 percent vegetables and foods. Six staff quarters and 12 colonies produce 644kgs of waste daily while around 125 shops and restaurants 197.50kgs, the research added.
Auhid said environment of the campus would be threatened shortly if the university authorities do not take proper steps immediately for proper waste management.
Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Alauddin said if the people do not become cautious about the disposal of waste, there is nothing the university authorities can do in this regard.
Everybody should be careful about the disposal of waste, he added.