BM Desk: Administrator Mohammad Azaz of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) reported that by Saturday evening, 85% of the sacrificial debris in the capital’s northern region had been collected.

During a nighttime emergency news briefing, Azaz stated that waste removal efforts were ongoing and making steady progress. “The work is being done in a cool, collected manner. Waste is frequently not adequately removed when deadlines are enforced, he said.
The rubbish removal program will run for three days, Azaz noted. “The pace of work is good, even though the process is progressing slowly,” he stated.With a few notable exceptions, the city corporation itself handles the majority of the waste management operations, according to the DNCC Administrator.

“We are using our full capacity. Even dump trucks from the Cantonment have been deployed. All in all, the work is progressing at maximum speed,” he added.Azaz also said the corporation had not imposed any restrictions on sacrificial slaughter.

“We want individuals to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha in their own unique ways over the span of three days. We have not imposed any specific schedule for animal sacrifice,” he stated. “Our waste management efforts have been broadened to address the situation more efficiently. However, it is still premature to provide a conclusive evaluation of the operation since many individuals are continuing with their sacrifices. Some may even slaughter animals tomorrow or the day after,” Azaz mentioned. For the first time, DNCC members distributed polythene sheets and bleaching powder directly to homes.
“In the past, residents had to obtain these materials from the offices of councillors, often relying on political connections. This time, we have supplied the materials as part of an unbiased service for all Dhaka residents,” Azaz added. Regarding the challenges faced that day, he recognized that rain had hindered operations.
“Rain did impede our efforts to a certain degree.

Nevertheless, our significant accomplishment was preventing waterlogging despite the rainfall. Although some areas of Mirpur faced minor flooding, the water eventually subsided,” he remarked.
When questioned about the ongoing use of the Aminbazar landfill site for disposing of sacrificial waste, the DNCC Administrator acknowledged that the site had already exceeded its lifespan. “The Aminbazar landfill reached its expiration in 2017. For the past eight years, no alternative has been arranged, so we are forced to continue utilizing it,” he explained.

However, he noted that an additional 50 acres of land had recently been acquired at a cost of Tk618 crore to alleviate pressure on the site. “But this is not a long-term solution. DNCC is striving to move away from open dumping,” he stated. Several pilot projects aimed at eliminating open dumping have already been initiated. “We anticipate sharing the results of these projects within the next two to three months,” Azaz concluded.