DHAKA: The doctors, butchers and cleaners of the 5 slaughterhouses of Dhaka City Corporation are getting their salary duly though they have no work to do.

Besides, the environment of those butcheries has turned horrible by now, according to a spot view of the disarray.

Once these butcher’s houses were a source of revenue earning for DCC, but, nowadays, these have become just a useless burden for them. Lack of proper supervision and reluctance of the authorities are to blame for the debacle, it was learnt during a recent spot visit to the places of slaughtering animals for food of the city-dwellers.

According to DCC sources, three of the five contractors of those slaughterhouses left the business in fear of huge loses. The three derelict slaughterhouses are at Hazaribag, Kaptanbazaar and Mohammadpur Krishi market.

The Hazaribag slaughterhouse was given lease for Tk 9 lakh last year. Kaptanbazaar’s one was given for Tk13 lakh and that at Mohammadpur Krishi market for Tk 12 lakh.

But, all the three leaseholders buzzed off, even forgoing their security money.

Further tenders were invited thrice against those abandoned shambles. “But none showed any interest, considering it as a losing concern,” said one of the sources, on condition of anonymity.

Finally, the DCC authorities were compelled to run those slaughterhouses under the supervision of its estate department.

The remaining two slaughterhouses, situated beside Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Memorial and Mirpur Block 11, are merged with much more difficulties and awful condition than of those three.

Another source that also spoke on condition of anonymity said though the city corporation has only five slaughterhouses, but doctors, butchers and cleaners were recruited against three more. And all the personnel are getting their pays and perks regularly.
According to the organogram, three veterinary doctors, 18 veterinary inspectors and as many butchers and seal men each, and 20 cleaners against the vacant posts were recruited for total eight zones.

And the recruitment process of five more veterinary doctors is underway, the source said.

It was found out that no one did examine the health conditions of the animals before slaughtering. Power and water supply to those butcheries is not regular either. Even there are no chairs for the doctors to sit on. And the space is too tiny, not adequate for the animals there.

One source said, “Chief veterinary officer Dr. Azmat Ali is only permanently recruited. The rest of the veterinary doctors were BCS cadres, who joined on deputation. They all are getting 20 percent deputation allowances with basic salary.”

Without doing any work, they all are getting salaries and other benefits.

Moreover, the DCC authorities closed down the slaughterhouse beside the Gulsan–1 park five years ago, while its employees are still getting salary regularly.

Asked about the matters, Mayor Sadeq Hossain Khoka told banglanews24.com.bd, “People are being recruited according to the organogram passed in the Secretariat. Government sends people on deputation against the posts available.”

But, he said, initiative would be taken to renovate the slaughterhouses in the current fiscal year.

He stated, “The issue is dealt with by Estate and Engineering Department. DCC will renovate the slaughterhouses if proposal comes from them.”

BDST: 1525 HRS, JULY 3, 2010.