First of all, I would like to thank all my friends who are reading this article with great difficulty. The topic of today's weekly competition has made me think deeply. So I thought I would share some such things with you today. We go through so many problems every day, but how many of us stop and think, why is this happening? Today, I will talk about a problem in the context of my country, Bangladesh, which we see every day, get annoyed, but forget about it later.

Problems I have seen: The mentality of littering everywhere, and waste management

When I go out on the streets of my area, especially in the market area, a very common scene is that the drain overflows on the side of the road,d and dirty water flows onto the road. Packets of chips or water bottles are lying next to a bench in a beautiful park. "Indiscriminate littering" is a huge problem in our country. It is not only polluting the environment, but also questioning our taste and personality. When Dhaka or big cities get flooded with a little rain during the monsoon, we abuse the drainage system. But we forget that the drain is clogged with my or your discarded polythene and plastic bottles

Some steps to solve

You and I both know that this problem cannot be solved in a day. However, if we take some planned steps, changes will come, and this is also real.

1. Waste segregation at source: We need to make it a habit to separate biodegradable (such as vegetable peels) and non-biodegradable (plastic) waste from our homes.

2. Increase community bins or dustbins: Many times, people do not find dustbins and throw garbage on the streets. Therefore, it is important to install small bins at a certain distance.

3. Fines and surveillance: Like the developed world, we also need to impose strict fines for throwing garbage on the streets. When the pockets get tight, people will be forced to become aware.

So many people are watching, but why does the problem persist?

 Strangely, we all know that being in a dirty environment spreads germs, yet we do not change. In fact, we as a human race have become accustomed to all these problems. I think the main reason for the persistence of this problem is the "culture of avoiding responsibility" and "lack of shame".

When we see a pile of dirt already lying on the street, we think, "What harm will it do if I throw a small packet of chips?" This mentality has become a part of our lives. Also, there is a kind of strange arrogance working in us. We think that keeping the streets clean is only the job of the city corporation or the sanitation workers. We pay taxes, so our job is only to make the dirt, and the government's job is to clean it. As long as this thinking remains within us, the problem will not be solved. I think so.

The Most Misunderstood Part of This Problem

In my opinion, the most misunderstood aspect of this problem is that people think that it is an "administrative failure". Yes, the administration is responsible, but people don't want to understand that this is actually a "behavioral problem."

Most people think that if the government installs 10,000 new dustbins tomorrow, the country will be clean. This is a wrong idea. Even though there are dustbins, people lazily throw garbage out the windows. We think that modern equipment or increasing the budget will provide a solution. But the real mistake is in our habits. The real crisis is not reaching out to the dustbin to throw garbage; the lack of dustbins is secondary here.

 If I could change one mindset

If I could change just one mindset of people like a magic wand, it would be, "Consider the country as your own drawing room."

You see, we don't throw a piece of paper in our own drawing room or on the bed. If someone throws it, we get angry. Because it's "my home." But that feeling doesn't work when we go out on the street. We consider the street as "the next place."

I want people to develop this mindset that the street, park, or bus - all are part of my country, that is, an extended part of my own home. Just as I don't spit in my bedroom, I won't throw it on the street either. The day every citizen considers the country astheirs home, there will be no need for any cleaning workers, the country will be clean as it is.

It is easy to complain about the problem, but it is difficult to be part of the solution. I believe that big changes are not made by any law, but by awakening the conscience of people. Let's stop complaining and put our own packet of chips in our pockets. I make a habit of taking it home.

Thank you all for reading my article.