Eid-ul-Azha, one of the most salient religious festivals of Muslims, is knocking at the door. It is the time to remember the true spirit of sacrifice that this occasion stands for.
This year, in Bangladesh, we will celebrate the occasion on August 1. The joyous occasion comes at a time when the world is passing through a critical phase in modern history.
COVID-19, the global pandemic caused by the new coronavirus, continues to ravage the world with its alarming rate of infection. Hence, as conscious citizens, this time we must consider streets our homes while performing the sacrificial ritual.
Reportedly, the two city corporations of Dhaka have designated 356 places for the slaughtering of sacrificial animals during Eid-ul-Azha to facilitate fast and efficient disposal of blood and waste.
With the COVID-19 pandemic running rampant,
the need to slaughter animals in a hygienic manner
during Eid is more important than ever before
Therefore, we would like to urge the city dwellers to sacrifice their animals at the designated places, so that the wastes can be easily removed.
Every year during Eid-ul-Azha, a huge amount of waste is produced from sacrificial animals, which takes a long time to be disposed of. Traditionally, sacrificial animals are slaughtered on private property or on public roads — a practice which results in the city being inundated with the aftermath most unsightly.
This practice is unhygienic and unsanitary, and serves to tarnish the city’s image. The blood and entrails clog up the drains, and leave city-dwellers with a stench that lasts for days. Therefore, the city corporation authorities should devise a plan and take precautionary measures to clean the waste as soon as possible.
It needs no emphasising that slaughtering of animals on the streets causes significant environmental pollution and health risks. With the COVID-19 pandemic still running rampant across the globe, the need to slaughter animals in a hygienic and orderly manner during Eid is more important than ever before.
