Despite Dhaka South City Corporation's (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh's promise to clear sacrificial animal waste within 24 hours, piles of rotting waste still litter many streets, especially in Old Dhaka. This delay has led to serious air pollution and an unbearable stench for residents. On Wednesday, various areas, including Aga Sadek Road and Shikkatuli Lane, were still covered in waste. Rainwater has spread the waste further, worsening the situation. Residents, like Mostafa Kamal from Aga Sadek Road, complained about the lingering stench and the inability to open their windows due to the foul smell.
While DSCC officials claim they met the waste removal targets, many residents argue otherwise. Ward 33 Councillor Awal Hossain said that delays were due to sacrifices made on the second or third day of Eid, contrary to DSCC's request to complete sacrifices within two days.
In several areas, like Siddique Bazar and Kazi Ala Uddin Road, waste piled up in front of homes and shops, despite the proximity to DSCC's headquarters, Nagar Bhaban. Residents expressed anger over the city corporation's negligence.
Areas such as Wari, Dayaganj, Dholaikhal, and South Banasree were notably affected, with piles of sacrificial waste still visible on the roadsides. The lingering garbage has led to foul odours, causing significant discomfort for the residents.
Bangshal, part of ward 69, and Suritola, part of ward 34, are two such areas where the DSCC's promises did not match reality. While DSCC reported that ward 69 was cleared by 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and ward 34 by 3 p.m., both areas still had waste lying around the Wednesday morning. DSCC had also claimed that the remaining 73 wards were completely cleared by 10 pm on the Tuesday.
Adding to the residents' frustration, DSCC did not apply bleaching powder at the sacrifice sites. This omission raises concerns about potential flooding if the waste gets washed into the drains during rain.
Residents have voiced their dissatisfaction, pointing out the continued presence of waste and the insufficient use of bleaching powder. One resident lamented, "The city corporation claimed 100% waste removal, but the sacrificial waste is still here, and the smell is unbearable."
Compounding the issue, sacrificial activities continued in parts of the capital, especially in Old Dhaka, where it is customary to perform sacrifices over all three days of Eid. DSCC workers noted that they had to repeatedly clean the same areas due to ongoing sacrifices, adding to their workload.
In a press release on Monday evening, DSCC Public Relations Officer Abu Nacher announced the complete removal of sacrificial waste from 34 wards by 6:30 pm, listing specific wards where this was supposedly accomplished.
DSCC's Chief Waste Management Officer, Mohammad Nashim Ahmed, acknowledged that sacrifices continued for three days in Old Dhaka, promising to clear all remaining waste by the afternoon of June 19. He also claimed that the waste from the first and second days had already been removed.
DSCC deployed 10,247 workers to tackle the waste, aiming to clear it within 24 hours. However, the waste removal was reportedly completed in 10 hours and 15 minutes on the first day, and 59 out of 75 wards were cleared by 5 pm on the second day. A total of 17,692 metric tonnes of waste were removed over 3,655 trips by June 18.
Mayor Tapas monitored the waste removal online from the United States, addressing the press via an online platform to discuss the efforts to manage Eid waste. Despite these efforts, the DSCC's failure to meet their 24-hour ultimatum has left residents frustrated and dissatisfied.
