City authorities have expressed frustration as Dhaka residents continue to avoid designated sites for animal sacrifices during Eid-ul-Adha, raising concerns over waste management and public health. Urban planners warn that a clean city will remain elusive unless public attitudes undergo a fundamental shift.
The initiative to promote designated slaughtering sites began in 2015, when the Local Government Division and city corporations introduced experimental spots to reduce blood and waste on streets and ensure faster cleaning. However, rather than expanding, the programme has gradually contracted over time.
Md Arifur Rahman, Additional Chief Waste Management Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), told TIMES of Bangladesh that convenience remains the main hurdle.
“Everyone says it is more convenient to process the sacrifice under their own building,” he said, noting that public participation at the official sites remains very low. DNCC has launched awareness campaigns through loudspeakers, banners, and local Imams to encourage residents to use the sites.
Md Russel Rahman, Public Relations Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), echoed the concerns, saying publicity campaigns continue but only the public can explain the lack of interest in the designated areas.
Many residents prefer slaughtering animals in alleys or under their buildings, creating lingering stench and environmental pollution. Asif Haider, a resident of Old Dhaka, told TIMES that home sacrifices allow the whole family to participate.
He cited long distances to designated sites, waiting in queues, and the cost of transporting meat home as major deterrents. Another resident, Bashir Ahmed, called it a logistical “hassle.”
Urban planner Md Abdur Rakib Khan said the issue is primarily behavioural and cannot be solved overnight. He stressed that improved infrastructure, ensuring clean, safe, and efficient service at the sites, could increase public interest.
In reality, long waits, mismanagement, and transport shortages often discourage residents from using the official locations.
Authorities are preparing for the Eid influx. Md Jobayer Hossain, Public Relations Officer of Dhaka North City, said instructions have been issued to ready slaughtering sites and landfills a day before Eid. He added that 1,000 meat processors across 54 wards are being trained to ensure proper slaughtering and waste management, with 10 monitoring teams deployed across the city.
Abdur Rakib Khan said transitioning to designated slaughtering sites is essential for the future. He warned that leaving sacrificial waste in open spaces not only creates a foul odour but also poses serious risks to public health, damages drainage systems, and contributes to environmental pollution.
Md Arifur Rahman confirmed that more than 700 vehicles have been readied for waste collection and removal. The plan covers swift removal from designated points and collecting waste from sacrifices performed in alleys for transport to specific disposal sites.
This coordinated effort comes as Dhaka prepares for one of its busiest periods of the year, highlighting the persistent challenges of public compliance and urban sanitation.
