3.8 lakh free trash bags for city dwellers

The Dhaka north and Dhaka south city corporations will distribute around 3.8 lakh free biodegradable bags to city dwellers ahead of the Eid for controlled and faster disposal of leftovers from slaughtered cattle.

The corporations hope to remove waste from the city within 48 hours from the noon of Eid-ul-Azha.

DNCC alone is distributing 2.8 lakh polythene bags expecting two lakh animals to be sacrificed in their area. The DSCC is going to distribute one lakh bags, although it anticipates the number of sacrificial animals to be double there.

“It is an initiative to build awareness. I believe people who have the ability to spend at least Tk 30,000 for an animal also have the ability to buy a bag at Tk 30,” said DSCC Chief Waste Management Officer Captain Raquib Uddin.

“We do not want people to dump anything on the roads,” said DNCC Chief Waste Management Officer Captain Bipan Kumar Saha.

The DSCC organised a press conference to explain its waste management plans during Eid-ul-Azha at the Nagar Bhaban yesterday morning.

It is customary for people to sacrifice animals in open areas in front of their houses or on the roads and alleys, leaving smelly piles of animal parts lying around. In addition to the risk of diseases it also degrades the quality of life.

In reply to a question, Raquib said the polythene bags would be biodegradable.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DSCC Khan Mohammad Belal said people can file complaints about animal waste in the DSCC website. Local inspectors would receive the messages, he added.

The person filing the complaint will also receive an update in a message.

Belal requested the citizens to slaughter their cattle at the corporation designated places.

For the first time this Eid-ul-Azha, there will be 595 designated spots in the city to sacrifice animals. The DSCC area will have 324 spots and the DNCC 271 spots.

In reply to a question, Bipan said, “Since we have taken the initiative for the first time, there might be some problems. But we want to bring order in the process.”

The DSCC will distribute 85,000 leaflets on proper disposal of cattle waste from today in addition to announcement on loudspeakers at every ward.

The DNCC on the other hand has already distributed two lakh leaflets to the citizens.

The city corporations will also spray liquid anti-septic in narrow streets. Bleaching powder will also be spread at the cattle markets.