Scattered animal waste spoils post-Eid atmosphere

A payloader of the Dhaka City Corporation dumps waste of sacrificial animals into a truck at North South road in the city yesterday. Buriganga River, right, turns red yesterday as blood of animals sacrificed on Wednesday during Eid-ul-Azha passed into the river through sewerage lines.Photo: STAR

The days following Eid-ul-Azha have been partially marred as stench from waste, blood and leftovers of slaughtered sacrificial animals filled the air of the city causing utmost sufferings to city dwellers.
Putrid blood, ears, horns and faeces of the animals could be seen scattered on the roads during a visit to different parts of the capital's Wari, Jatrabari, Mirhajirbagh, Kajla, Shiyampur, Dholairpar, Postagola, Motijheel and Tikatuli.
A heap of waste lies on the street adjacent to Golapbagh playground. People of the area could be seen passing with scarves and handkerchiefs covering their noses.
Mohammad Ali, a businessman, told the reporter that though it was duty of the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) to remove the waste, no steps was taken.
"The sweepers of the area are missing since Wednesday morning. They collected tips from the houses on Eid day and since then have disappeared,” he said.
Pools of blood and waste littered the streets of Swamibagh Lane. Mehjabin Ara, a housewife of Dayaganj area in the city, jumps over the mess in a bid to cross the road. She precariously holds her daughter with one hand while covering her nose with another.
"We pay tax to DCC each year to keep our streets neat and clean. But they do not take any measures even though the streets remain littered with waste each year after Eid day," she bitterly tells The Daily Star.
Local panchayet committees of some residential areas took initiatives of their own to keep the streets clean. The voluntary members of the committee sprayed bleaching powder on blood and waste and removed the mess on their own.
Jatrabari Panchayet Committee member Sirajul Haque said by the time DCC arrives, the waste rots and the odor spreads all over the area. "That is why we have been taking our own steps for the last two years,” he added.
Apart from the panchayet committee, many residents removed their animal waste and spread bleaching powder on their own.
Kamalapur cattle market is one of the biggest of its kind in the city. Waste could be seen lying around while crows fought over scraps at the deserted market.
A bulldozer was seen loading three waste carrying vehicles of DCC at the market yesterday noon.
DCC Chief Waste Management Officer Bipanan Kumar Shaha said around 11,500 workers of DCC have been working since the night before Eid-ul-Azha.
He said they are using different equipments including payloader, compactor, and dumper.
“We are trying our best and the special drive will continue till tomorrow (Saturday),” he said.
Biponon said they tried to cover all the areas in the city and will take instant steps if they get any complains of rubbish lying on the streets.