Disinclination to slaughter cattle at fixed places in Dhaka during rainy Eid-ul-Azha

Heavy rains in the morning and people’s disinclination left the places earmarked by the city corporations for the sacrifice of cattle almost empty in Dhaka during Eid-ul-Azha.

Citizens in Dhaka South City Corporation slaughtered Eid cattle in parking lots, garages, or nearby streets on Tuesday.

The city corporation had fixed 504 places for the slaughter of sacrificial animals. Of them, 274 were had canvas coverings.

The slaughter was delayed by rains and water clogging the streets as a result.

At Uttar Jatrabarhi, no one slaughtered cattle at the fixed place. Traders brought and piled up cattle hide there later in the afternoon.

Abdul Majid Sarder, a local leader, said no one could wade through the water with cattle to the place marked off for slaughter.

Hatkhola Road resident Mostafa Jamal said he was aware of the place fixed by the city corporation but could not take his cattle to it due to the rains.

There was no canvas to cover the slaughter spot in Wari’s Rankin Street. Resident Abdus Sobhan said he had wanted to slaughter his cattle there but could not due to the absence of a cover to shield people from the rains.

Work on cleaning up animal waste began in the presence of Mayor Sayeed Khokon at Dholaaikhal at 2pm. He directed the removal of all wastes within 24 hours.

“People are more aware than before. Their involvement in cleaning work has risen. I hope to organise a news conference after the wastes are disposed of in 24 hours,” he said.

About people’s unwillingness to use the fixed places, he said, “We couldn’t provide protective covering for all the places. We will arrange covering at all places in future so that people can use these even during rain.”

“They will get used to it slowly,” he added.

In Shyamoli, residents were forced to slaughter cattle on the main street after the alleys were submerged by rain water.

One of them, Rezaul Karim, said, “There has not been enough supply of water or polythene bags. Big trouble here.”

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq, however, said slaughtering was conducted properly.

According to him, more animals were slaughtered at designated places this year than were last year.

Adequate numbers of Imams and butchers were present at the slaughter grounds and a sufficient amount of polythene bags and bleaching powder were also provided, he added.