The government for the first time this year designated 538 spots across Dhaka for slaughtering of animals during Eid-ul-Azha, but the initiative has failed to get much response from the people.

Animals were slaughtered in front of houses, garages or wherever people found it convenient like previous years, littering the streets with blood and waste.  
 
The government designated 208 spots in Dhaka North City Corporation and 330 in South.
 
Of the 10 spots bdnews24.com correspondents visited until noon, eight were almost empty.
 
Many said they did not want to put the ‘extra’ labour for carrying the meat to their houses from the designated spots, while others alleged city corporations did not campaign properly about the initiative.
 
The city corporations, however, said the response was meagre, as it was for the first time such arrangements were made.
 
They hoped the citizens would get used to the new system gradually.

The main congregation at National Eidgah was held at 8am, but the congregations at mosques in various localities started at 7am.


The slaughtering started after the prayers.

One Zobayer Islam slaughtered a cow in the alley in front of his house at Goran.

The Dhaka South City Corporation designated Goran Ground for slaughtering of animals in his are.

“Carrying meat from that place is a trouble. We will clean the place splashing water and use special bags supplied by the city corporation to dispose of the waste,” he said.

The spot at Khilgaon intersection was almost empty around 9am. But people slaughtered cattle in the alleys only some hundred yards away from the spot.

The scenario was different at Segunbagicha.

Habibur Rahman, a resident of the area, said over 50 cattle heads were slaughtered at the spot in front of the ACC office.

“Residents of Segunbagicha Tower, Priyo Prangon, and other apartment buildings slaughtered cattle at the designated spot. Actually, we slaughter cattle in this place every year,” he said.

In New Market area, security guard of an apartment building Sanjay Dip said at least 62 cattle were slaughtered in front of the building following the instruction from the city corporation.

“The city corporation supplied bags and bleaching powder. The building authorities will clear the blood and waste after the slaughtering,” he said.

The Dhaka North City Corporation fixed 10 places at Shyamoli, Mohammadpur, and Adabor.

Two of these spots were not used much.

The street from Mirpur’s Section 10 intersection to Mirpur 12 was stained with blood and littered with waste.

At Section-12, the spot designated for slaughtering was the field adjacent to the office of the cleaners of city corporation.

Hanufa Akter, who runs a tea stall in the area, said no one came to slaughter cattle at the field.

“The government made announcements about the designated spot using mikes yesterday (Thursday). But not many are aware of the spot yet,” she said.

She said the city corporation supplied bags and bleaching powder.

Mizanur Rahman, a resident of the area, said, “Look, you cannot just slaughter cattle if only a place is provided. Many other things are needed. Such as, you need water to remove the hide.

“Buckets of water are needed to process the meat of a cow. But there was no supply of water (at the spots),” he said.

Dhaka North City Corporation Public Relations Officer Monwar Hossain said slaughtering of cattle on the designated grounds was not mandatory this year.

“Our instruction got little response,” he said.

He, however, hoped the citizens would gradually get into the habit of using designated grounds for slaughtering of animals.

bdnews24.com/NS