|| Golam Sajdin Tahmid, Raipur Correspondent: Visitors entering or leaving Raipur Municipality in Lakshmipur are greeted not by a welcoming gateway, but by the stench of a sprawling open garbage dump that has stood beside the Lakshmipur-Raipur highway for years.The waste has accumulated directly beneath the "Welcome to Raipur Upazila" and "Thank You, Raipur Upazila" gateways, located at the boundary between Raipur and Faridganj upazilas. The site, which also marks the border between Lakshmipur and Chandpur districts, has become a symbol of the municipality's long-standing waste management crisis.Residents say municipal waste from all nine wards of Raipur, along with garbage collected from local markets, has been dumped at the location for the past six to seven years. Every day, waste is transported by vans and unloaded in the open, creating unbearable odour, environmental pollution and growing public health concerns.A recent visit to the area found a massive pile of decomposing waste spread beneath the gateway. Local people allege that the dumping has nearly filled a nearby historic pond owned by the District Council, while the foul smell has made travel along the busy highway extremely uncomfortable.Thousands of commuters, students, workers and passengers using the road reportedly cover their noses with cloths or handkerchiefs to pass through the area.Residents also complain that instead of removing the accumulated waste, authorities frequently set it on fire. The burning releases thick black smoke, polluting the air and posing additional health risks to nearby communities. The situation worsens during the summer and monsoon seasons, when the stench intensifies and mosquito infestation increases significantly.Locals say the problem has persisted despite repeated complaints to the authorities."The smell from the municipal waste has become unbearable, and we are living with serious health risks," said resident Md. Zahir. "We have informed the authorities several times, but nothing has changed. It is unfortunate that people entering or leaving the district are welcomed by a huge garbage dump."Raipur Municipality Executive Officer Masud Morshed acknowledged the problem, saying the municipality has no dedicated dumping station."We do not have our own dumping facility, nor have we been able to acquire land for constructing a modern waste management site," he said. "The previous municipal authorities also used this location. At present, we have no alternative, so nearly 100 tonnes of waste are being placed here every day."He added that a permanent solution would require land acquisition and government funding for a modern sanitary landfill.Environmental campaigners warn that continued dumping of waste in an open area beside a major highway is causing serious damage to the environment and posing risks to public health. They urged the authorities to immediately establish an environmentally sound waste management system, relocate the dumping site and develop a permanent disposal facility to end years of pollution and public suffering.