Same Trash, Different Bin: The Power Behind the Pile
Household waste collection in Dhaka is a massive empire. It is worth at least Tk 3.17 billion every year. This business is not run by the city. It is captured by politically connected groups. The names of the bosses change when the government changes. During the Awami League era, their leaders and councillors held control. Now, leaders and activists from the BNP and its wings have taken over. They use intimidation to push out others. They ignore the city corporation fee rules. This is a highly profitable and unregulated market. It is built on arbitrary fees and political patronage.
The Official Blind Eye: A Political Payday
City officials admit they cannot stop the lawbreaking. They say this trade is a key income source for local ruling party activists. It is a reward for their political loyalty. Rules are violated every day. Money is collected arbitrarily. If a person without political ties tries to get a contract, they fail. They face threats and extortion demands. Officials claim it is pointless to deny this reality. The city corporation loses both its revenue and its authority. The system exists to serve the party in power, not the citizens.
Trash Math: Turning Dirt into Pure Gold
The waste business has zero chance of loss and high profit. The legal fee for waste collection is Tk 100 per household. Even at this rate, a single ward makes Tk 300,000 in monthly profit after all costs. However, most collectors ignore the limit. They charge residents Tk 150 to Tk 200 instead. In some areas, the fee goes up to Tk 300. This illegal hike pushes the monthly profit to Tk 500,000 per ward. In Dhaka South alone, the annual trade value reaches at least Tk 3.17 billion. This massive cash flow keeps the political syndicates strong. Citizens pay the price for this blessing of power.
Gaitonde’s Script, Dhaka’s Reality: The Trash Mafia
Ganesh Gaitonde’s rise in Sacred Games is no longer fiction. It is the business model for Dhaka’s waste. In this city, trash is the new gold. The sources confirm this empire is worth at least Tk 3.17 billion every year. This is not a public service. It is a political monopoly.
Like any mafia story, you need the blessing of power to enter. When the government falls, the Godfathers change, but the system remains. The Awami League controlled it yesterday; the BNP and its wings control it today. They use intimidation and force to grab the market.
The math is simple and brutal. There is zero chance of loss. Collectors ignore the city’s Tk 100 limit. They charge whatever they want. This creates a massive monthly profit of up to Tk 500,000 per ward.
City corporation officials told Prothom Alo this is a source of income for party activists. They call it a reality that is pointless to deny. The script is the same as the show. The only difference? This billion-taka heist is happening in your bin every morning.
– Opinion | Daily ScrollDown