This year’s Eid-ul-Azha is coming at a time when the world has set a new record for the highest daily increase in coronavirus infections, leading many to lose faith in their governments to tackle the pandemic and ensure the safety, security, and wellbeing of their citizens, and it would be foolish of authorities to exacerbate the situation further.
This year, the Dhaka North City Corporation has designated 256 spots for slaughtering sacrificial animals on the day of Eid-ul-Azha, a directive that is especially crucial this year, as the Covid-19 pandemic rages through our nation.
Bangladesh has had close to 3,000 deaths as of today, and we had editorialized before on the need for caution and precaution as the cattle markets were set up as these can create clusters for coronavirus which would eventually spread faster than we can control them.
These designated spots for slaughter can be the same -- not only must authorities with law help of law enforcement ensure that people are not found slaughtering their animals anywhere they please, they must also ensure that these designated spots follow health directives, such as wearing masks and maintaining social distance.
These spots also generate massive amounts of waste -- expected to be around 100,000 tons this year -- and present another pathway for the virus to spread, in addition to the obvious environmental effects they have.
We are pleased that the authorities are taking the pandemic seriously by strengthening monitoring measures and raising awareness through mosques, and we hope government officers carry out their duties in this regard with the utmost seriousness in the coming week.
