A job well done

Except for some scattered waste, both of the Dhaka city corporations have successfully cleaned around 29,000 tonnes of waste of sacrificial animals from the capital.

And the credit goes to the corporation officials and workers who have worked since the Eid day noon to give the dwellers respite from stench of dung, blood and unused parts of the animals.

Expressing satisfaction, Mohammad Hakim, an elderly resident, said “I couldn't even imagine it about two to three years ago. I hope such cleaning efforts will continue...”

Habiba Naznin, a resident of Elephant Road, said, “Before, it used to be difficult to inhale due to the heavy stench even two days after Eid. I thank the mayors that they were able to bring some changes.”

Seeking anonymity, a Dhaka South City Corporation official said as the lanes were narrow in many parts of the old town, it took longer to clean those places.

Visiting yesterday noon, it was seen that the waste of sacrificial animals were scattered here and there in Dhupkhola, Shantinagar, Swamibagh, Dayaganj, Dholaikhal, Adabar and Shekhertek areas.

On Sunday, DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon said 90 percent of the waste has been removed from the cattle markets and slaughtering spots.

"We made a pledge to clean the city within 24 hours.... as per our commitment, we have removed around 90 percent of waste from both the north and south city corporation areas," he told a press conference at Nagar Bhaban.

The DSCC cleaned around 18,000 tonnes of waste while DNCC around 11,000 tonnes in the last two days.

The corporations had begun their cleaning drive from Friday night.

DSCC Chief Waste Management Officer Air Commodore Shafiqul Alam said, “We begin our cleaning drive the night before the Eid day. Otherwise, it would not be possible to complete the cleaning.”

At least 4.5 lakh cattle were slaughtered during the three consecutive days from Saturday.

In the last three days, around 12,000 cleaners worked with 350 vehicles and other cleaning equipment. The corporations used social media and a hotline to receive complaints of unmanaged waste from the city dwellers.

But the corporations could not lead cleaning drive at the temporary cattle markets in full swing due to the bamboo fences set up there.

Saying that the fences create obstacle to launching a comprehensive cleaning drive, DNCC Chief Waste Management Officer Commodore MA Razzak said, “The lessees have begun to unfasten the fences. We, too, have begun our cleaning process.”