Rajshahi, May 22 (V7N) — Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative to distribute eco-friendly biodegradable bags and bleaching powder free of cost among city residents ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, aiming to ensure hygienic meat preservation and rapid removal of sacrificial animal waste.
The programme was formally inaugurated on Thursday afternoon at Dargapara under Ward No. 9 by RCC Administrator Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman Riton. During the inauguration, he handed over environmentally friendly bags and bleaching powder to several residents before visiting homes in the area to personally distribute the materials among citizens.
Under the initiative, all 82,000 Muslim households across Rajshahi metropolitan area will receive three biodegradable bags for preserving sacrificial meat in a hygienic manner. Families sacrificing cows or buffaloes will additionally receive two large eco-friendly bags and one kilogram of bleaching powder, while those sacrificing goats or sheep will receive one biodegradable bag and 500 grams of bleaching powder.
Speaking to journalists, RCC Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton said the initiative was undertaken to implement the public welfare commitments announced by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and to protect public health and the environment during Eid-ul-Azha.
He said the biodegradable bags are fully decomposable and will naturally mix with soil, reducing plastic pollution and environmental hazards. He also expressed hope that Rajshahi could gradually be transformed into a polythene-free city through similar environmentally conscious programmes in the future.
Riton further stated that, in line with government directives, all preparations have been completed to remove sacrificial waste within 12 hours of Eid slaughter activities.
“With the cooperation of city residents, we hope to complete waste removal within 10 to 12 hours and ensure a clean and hygienic city immediately after Eid,” he said.
Urging residents to cooperate, the RCC administrator requested citizens not to slaughter animals over drainage systems or dispose of blood and waste into drains. He advised residents to place sacrificial waste inside the RCC-provided bags at designated locations so sanitation workers can collect them efficiently. He also encouraged the use of bleaching powder after cleaning blood and waste to maintain hygiene and prevent foul odours.
RCC Chief Conservancy Officer Sheikh Md. Mamun Dollar said Rajshahi City Corporation is the first city corporation in Bangladesh to introduce such an initiative on this scale.
“This is an innovative initiative taken by the RCC administrator. We believe the programme will benefit city residents and help maintain a cleaner urban environment during Eid celebrations,” he added.
Several local political leaders, representatives of BNP and its affiliated organizations, city officials, and community members were present during the inauguration ceremony.
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