DNCC Clears 85% of Eid Waste by Evening, Says Administrator

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) successfully cleared around 85 percent of sacrificial animal waste by Saturday evening, according to DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz.

At an emergency press briefing, Ejaz said the waste removal campaign was progressing steadily and being carried out in an organized and systematic manner. “When we rush to meet deadlines, cleaning often suffers. This time, we prioritized method over speed,” he explained.

The cleanup drive will continue for three days, with DNCC operating at full capacity. “Even dump trucks from the Cantonment Board have been deployed to assist in the effort. Except for a few subcontracted areas, DNCC is handling most of the operation directly,” Ejaz said.

He emphasized that no fixed time frame was enforced for animal sacrifices this year. “We’ve allowed residents to observe Eid-ul-Azha over three days in their own way. Our cleanup strategy is diversified and adaptive to ensure efficiency,” he added.

In a notable first, DNCC distributed polythene sheets and bleaching powder directly to households instead of through councillors' offices. “Previously, these items were distributed through political channels. This year, we ensured equal access for everyone,” said Ejaz.

Challenges and Progress

Rain briefly disrupted waste collection efforts, slowing down operations in some areas. “Despite the rain, we managed to avoid major waterlogging,” Ejaz said. “Only some parts of Mirpur saw temporary flooding, which later receded.”

Responding to concerns about the use of the overburdened Aminbazar landfill, Ejaz acknowledged that the site had exceeded its lifespan back in 2017. “Unfortunately, no alternative site was arranged in the past eight years,” he noted.

To ease the load, DNCC recently acquired an additional 50 acres of land at a cost of Tk 618 crore. “But this is only a temporary measure. We are moving away from open dumping,” he said.

Pilot projects aimed at ending open waste dumping are currently underway. “We expect to share the results of these initiatives within the next two to three months,” Ejaz concluded.