Standstill in South amid Eid preparations in North

With the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha and the onset of the monsoon season, concerns over waste management are growing among Dhaka residents. Every year, citizens of both South and North Dhaka worry about the swift and proper removal of sacrificial animal waste. This year, the situation has become more alarming due to early seasonal rains that have already caused waterlogging in several areas of the capital, severely disrupting traffic. If waste is not properly managed during Eid, the city’s environment could face serious risks. Amid this, Dhaka South and North City Corporations are facing two very different realities.

Administrative Paralysis in the South
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is currently in a state of severe paralysis. The DSCC Employees' Union and supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain have launched a protest demanding that he be sworn in as mayor, as declared by the High Court. As a result, all services at the Nagar Bhaban (City Hall) have been suspended since May 15.

Protesters have locked the main entrance of the building since May 14 and are continuing sit-ins on the premises. Under the banners of the "Dhaka South City Corporation Workers-Employees Union" and "Dhakabashi," they have been staging rallies, chanting slogans, and maintaining their presence.

The protestors argue, “According to the people’s mandate and the High Court verdict, Ishraque Hossain is the legitimate mayor. Yet, the government is politically delaying his swearing-in.” They have warned that all departments in the Nagar Bhaban will remain locked until their demand is met.

This has led to severe suffering for citizens. Services like birth registration, trade licenses, dengue prevention, waste management, and even death certificates are completely halted. Every day, residents are returning empty-handed from Nagar Bhaban.

Ishraque Hossain had challenged the 2020 mayoral election results in court, alleging irregularities. On March 27 this year, the High Court annulled the election of Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and declared Ishraque the valid mayor. Although the Election Commission published the official gazette on April 27, the swearing-in has been stalled due to alleged “legal complications” cited by the Ministry of Local Government. A writ filed on May 14 was also dismissed by the High Court, but the protests continue.

This deadlock has raised serious concerns about waste management during Eid-ul-Azha in the South. If the current stalemate continues, there is fear that waste collection and disposal efforts on Eid and the days following could be severely disrupted.

Despite the ongoing crisis, DSCC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Md. Zillur Rahman told Views Bangladesh that efforts are being made to maintain essential services. “We are accepting the challenge and trying our best to provide maximum civic services despite the crisis. Additional manpower has been deployed to ensure that sacrificial waste is cleared by the evening of Eid day,” he said.

Regarding waterlogging, he added, “This is not a new problem in Dhaka. It has persisted for many years. Still, we are doing our utmost to resolve it as swiftly as possible.” He further stated that although the situation is not fully normal, some emergency operations are being carried out on a limited scale, keeping Eid and the rainy season in mind.

Active Preparedness in the North
In contrast, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) presents a different picture. The DNCC administration appears well-prepared to address potential crises during Eid-ul-Azha. DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz told Views Bangladesh, “We have set up control rooms and appointed extra staff to quickly deal with waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall.”

He added, “To ensure uninterrupted waste management services during Eid, we will deploy cleaning staff in multiple shifts. We have also cleaned several canals and recovered a few, which is an ongoing process. We hope this will significantly reduce waterlogging during the monsoon.”

According to DNCC officials, areas such as Gulshan, Banani, Mirpur, Uttara, and Tejgaon experienced waterlogging after heavy rain, but the situation was resolved within a few hours. Ejaz said, “We have created a Quick Response Team that immediately rushes to waterlogged areas to initiate drainage.”

Citizens' Concerns and Expectations
Many Dhaka residents believe that even slight negligence in waste removal during Eid can make urban life unbearable. The arrival of the monsoon further complicates the situation. With DSCC’s operations virtually at a standstill, public anxiety is growing.

Shawon, a resident of Jatrabari, said, “We want a quick resolution. As citizens, we don’t want to suffer because of political conflicts.”

Sayeda Israt, a homemaker from Uttara, said, “Even if the North is well-prepared, if waste in the South is not removed, the entire city could be affected.

In response to a question about the potential impact on city residents if waste is not properly removed, Sharif Jamil, Member Secretary of the environmental organization Dhara (Dharti Rokkhay Amra), told Views Bangladesh, “Serious questions have been raised about the recovery process of canals, rivers, and water bodies that have been encroached upon over the past 17 years. In many cases, so-called recovery drives have only served to legitimize illegal occupation. Moreover, the government’s current approach to clearing these encroachments is fundamentally flawed. No matter how much waste is removed, effective results will not be achieved. To eliminate waterlogging, the boundaries of canals, rivers, and water bodies must be clearly demarcated and genuinely freed from encroachment. Otherwise, the suffering and hardship of city dwellers will not end.”

When contacted for comment, Dipankar Bar, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, declined to make an official statement. Later, attempts were made to reach the ministry’s advisor, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, but she could not be reached.