Clockwise: Two of the three pyres, one under the open sky and the other inside the tin-shed house, at the Postogola cremation ground. Tin roof of a re-rolling mill overlooks the burial ground, allegedly encroaching a part of the Postogola cremation ground. The way to the cremation ground occupied with iron-sheets used as raw materials at the re-rolling mills.Photo: STARThe Hindu community is facing a severe shortage of cremation and burial grounds in the city with the biggest cremation ground at Postogola, established about 132 years ago, shrinking gradually due to encroachment.
Postogola Mohashoshan, recognised as the national cremation ground, was set up on three acres (around 180 kathas) of land. Now it has been reduced to only 40 kathas as some re-rolling mills and iron sheet cutting factories encroached on a large portion of the land.
The burial ground adjacent to the Mohashoshan (cremation ground) is in a congested state, forcing the community to take bodies out of the city for burial.
Sources at the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) said part of the encroached area was recovered after the caretaker government took over last year. But the land grabbers came back after a few months.
There is another small DCC-run cremation ground in Kamrangirchar near Lalbagh, which is in even more appalling condition. Besides, there is a private one at Sabujbagh Kali Mandir, which is run by the temple authorities.
In Hindu religious custom, adults are usually cremated while the bodies of children under eight are buried. However, some of the scheduled caste or lower caste members of the Hindu community bury the deceased, both young and adults. Baishnobs and some high-caste adults are also buried instead of being cremated.
Babul Das, vice president, Postogola Jatiya Mahashoshan Committee, said, "The main problem is burial of children. Every single inch is filled at the burial ground. Those who are poor suffer the most since they don't have any land."
"The designated ground is very small compared to the population growth. Even that small area has been encroached," he added.
Kajal Debnath, joint secretary, Bangladesh Hindu Boudho Christian Unity Council, said, "Entrance to the Postogola shoshanghat is another problem, which always remains blocked with iron sheets and other metal objects belonging to the re-rolling mills."
Criticising DCC's role in maintaining burial grounds, he said, "Burial grounds belonging to all the religions should receive similar treatment."
Hindus constitute around 10 percent of the country's total population (now around 14 crore). No statistics are available on the Hindu population in Dhaka city, but the community leaders said it would be around 20 percent of the city's population.
The burial ground at Postogola has now the capacity to burry only 70 bodies. Due to the space constraints, graves are replaced within only three months. The authorities are no longer allowing adults to be buried there.
Sources said a total of 91 funerals were held at Postogola in February, including 30 of children.
The cremation ground is facing many other problems.
It is a custom to bathe the bodies before cremation. But there is only one tube-well at the ground for performing the ritual.
The cremation ground was established in 1876. Dhaka's elite Babu Gobinda Chandra Dutta donated the piece of land for it on the bank of the Buriganga.
Although the cremation ground was always under the municipality (now DCC), it is run by the Mohashoshan committee with donations. The first water tap, electricity, even the sitting arrangements were established with donations.
The cremation ground has three traditional chitas (funeral pyres) , two under the open sky and one with roof, meant for use during the rainy season.
The families of the deceased have to bear the cost of chita, which needs at least 6 maunds of firewood costing around Tk 700.
A small group of dom community living near the shoshan has been running the business of firewood and other funeral materials. They also work as cleaners of the ground.
These lower caste Hindu families have been living there for seven generations. However it is alleged that they raise the price of wood often without reason.
Shoshan committee members said the process of cremation is expensive for the poor. "A gas furnace is necessary, which will reduce the cost", Das said. "The cost will reduce to around Tk 200 if a gas furnace is added."
Another problem is the small tombs built by families and small temples occupying precious land of the ground. These are making the ground smaller. Families can buy a few feet of land to build these memorials at Tk 6,000.
Committee members suggested that one temple could be built for all.
Dhaka city Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka told Star City that a committee has been formed comprising leaders of the Hindu community and officials of DCC to find out the problems of the cremation ground.
Major General (retd) CR Dutta is the convenor of the committee.
"The cremation ground was encroached gradually during the past 30 years by many groups. The committee will try to identify the land grabbers and find ways to retrieve its original land," the mayor said.
"We are also considering establishing gas burners at the facility", Khoka said.
Modern electric incinerator lying idle for years
The electric incinerator that was installed by the DCC in 1990 with a view to modernise the Postogola crematorium is now lying idle.
The incinerator was installed at a cost of about Tk. 3 crore. Sources in the DCC said only 7 bodies were cremated in the incinerator. It went out of order a few years after its installation and since saw no repair.
Around Tk. 4 lakh is needed to repair the machine, which will be a burden for the crematorium, sources said.
It is also too expensive for the people who go to the cremation ground and want to use the incinerator.
"Cremating a body in the incinerator is not at all cost effective. It takes about 4 hours to heat up, another 45 more minutes to cremate a body. The process consumes a huge amount of electricity making the entire process very expensive", said sources in the DCC.
Charge for the cremation of one body is between Tk 1500 and Tk 2000, the amount the poor families cannot afford to.
Sources pointed out that the area suffers severe load-shedding, which adds to the troubles in running the electric incinerator.
Contacted, Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka said that the incinerator was installed without proper study. He said the DCC is planning an alternative way to resolve the problem.
