Published on 12:00 AM, July 24, 2021

Most of Dhaka cleaned up promptly after Eid

Locals busy cleaning up animal waste in Dhaka University area on the afternoon of Eid. PHOTO: PRABIR DAS

After Eid-ul-Azha, Dhaka city could be cleaned within three days through the efforts of the two city corporations and city dwellers.

However, animal waste was seen in some places on the third day of Eid yesterday.

Residents were encouraged to maintain proper disposal and clean their surroundings with bleach, which could be seen in many areas. Meanwhile, many also expressed satisfaction over the city corporations' prompt steps.

"After sacrificing our cattle, we cleaned the area and left the waste roadside, which were collected by the conservancy workers quickly," said Mohammad Jamil of Eskaton.

Earlier, the two mayors of the city had announced that they would ensure that garbage will be completely cleaned in three days.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has cleaned up 1,240.7 tonnes of animal and cattle market waste in the last three days till yesterday morning, while Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) cleaned up 15,733 tonnes during this time, according to officials.

DSCC Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Thursday said their garbage management workers have been working since the night of July 20.

DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, while visiting different areas on Thursday, said they have cleaned all animal waste on the first day of Eid.

Atiqul said around 11,500 conservancy workers were cleaning DNCC areas. Cleaning the city was possible due to cooperation of city dwellers, he added.

He said they have set up a control room at Gulshan Nagar Bhaban and were using it and their "Shobar Dhaka" app to clean the city.

He said they have distributed 6.5 lakh garbage bags, 50 tonnes of bleaching powder, and five-litre sized 1,500 containers of disinfectant to residents.

Meanwhile, around 9,990 conservancy workers were cleaning DSCC areas, said its officials, adding that they have distributed 30 tonnes of bleaching powder, 1.20 lakh garbage bags and 1,800-litre disinfectant to residents.

Although Dhaka's two city corporations cleaned up most of the areas, animal waste was seen at some places on the third day of Eid.

During a visit to Old Dhaka's Dholaikhal, Sutrapur, Distillery Road and North South Road areas, animal waste was seen piled up at some points. Garbage management workers and dump trucks were active to clean the solid waste.

While conservancy workers put the collected waste in their vehicles to quickly clear out the roads in the area. Due to the combined effort, most of the city areas were cleaned up within three days. PHOTO: PRABIR DAS

The places were still in a bad condition, as cattle markets were set up on the roads, said locals. Bad smell emanating from the piles spread throughout the areas.

Even after fully cleaning the city, the reality is that residents dump waste again at open spaces that were just cleaned, said Mayor Taposh.

He requested city dwellers to collect garbage bags, fill them with waste and give them to the workers.