Cattle-carrying trucks forced to pay toll

Police deny any such incident

A section of unscrupulous transporters, in collusion with police, are allegedly involved in collecting toll from cattle-carrying trucks at different entry points to capital Dhaka.

It is also alleged that some transport workers, with the help of local UP leaders, are collecting about Tk 1,000 per truck carrying sacrificial animals at the Daulatdia ferry terminal point in Rajbari district.

The local police administration, however, has denied the allegation, saying that such incidents, if they happened, should be brought to their notice at once.

Meanwhile, a large number of cattle heads have already reached various Dhaka markets by trucks and trawlers.

“We have paid Tk 1,000 as toll to local transport leaders at Daulatdia for carrying our cattle to Gabtali in the city. Besides, we had to pay Tk 100 and Tk 50 at different points,” Karim Bepari, a seasonal animal trader of Khulna, told this correspondent.

“It is totally baseless. We have already caught some brokers by conducting mobile court. We are monitoring the matter strictly and there is no scope such toll collection from cattle-carrying trucks,” Rajbari police super Salma Begum told The Independent yesterday.

She also claimed that no police personnel were involved in such toll collection.

The cattle traders hope that the sale of their sacrificial animals will gather momentum from today (Wednesday).

Meanwhile, lakhs of sacrificial animals are already there in different city markets on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest festivals of the Muslims.

“Today, I have sold two animals out of 10. The price is not high compared to last year’s. I have to count losses this year,” Nuru Bepari told this correspondent at the Gabtali ‘haat’.

He also said that many buyers had started buying animals, while others were still checking out the prices.

Many animal-carrying trucks were stranded on different highways due to traffic jams, Hason Bepari said, adding that more animals would come to Dhaka before the Eid day.

As many as 23 cattle markets, besides the permanent one at Gabtali, have been set up in different parts of the city. The temporary cattle markets under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) are—Meradia Bazaar, Uttar Shajahanpur-Khilgaon rail gate, Balur Math adjacent to Brothers Union, Kamlapur adjacent to Stadium, Jhigatola Hazaribag Math, Rahmatganj playground, Kamrangirchar-south embankment of Buriganga, Armanitola playground, Dhupkhola East and Club ground, Postogula Swashanghat, Donia College playground, Shaympur Balur Math, and Sadek Hossain Khoka field with Dholaikhal truck terminal.

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) cattle markets are—Kuril 300-feet road areas, Basila, Mirpur DOHS, Sector-15 in Uttara, Khilkhet Banarupa, Asian city, Sayeednagar in Bhatara, Aftabnagar and Mirpur Section-6. The traders are coming to the city markets with their cattle heads by trucks and through river ways.

According to the livestock department, a total of 1.15 crore sacrificial animals were ready to be sold against a demand of 1.10 crore this year. Of them, 44.57 lakh comprised cows and buffalos and 71 lakhs were goats and sheep.

According to the traders’ estimates, around 25 lakh cattle would be available in the city markets, and the actual sale and purchase would likely begin from Wednesday. At present, some city buyers were visiting the markets to assess the prices, but were not making any purchases, the sellers said.

Last year, the number of sacrificial animals was 1.5 crore. “Many traders have already reached Gabtali with their animals and the selling of animals started from today. More animals will come to this market before Eid,” Lutfor Rahman, lessee of the Gabtali market, told this correspondent.

Cattle-carrying trucks forced to pay toll

Police deny any such incident

A section of unscrupulous transporters, in collusion with police, are allegedly involved in collecting toll from cattle-carrying trucks at different entry points to capital Dhaka. It is also alleged that some transport workers, with the help of local UP leaders, are collecting about Tk 1,000 per truck carrying sacrificial animals at the Daulatdia ferry terminal point in Rajbari district. The local police administration, however, has denied the allegation, saying that such incidents, if they happened, should be brought to their notice at once. Meanwhile, a large number of cattle heads have already reached various Dhaka markets by trucks and trawlers. We have paid Tk 1,000 as toll to local transport leaders at Daulatdia for carrying our cattle to Gabtali in the city. Besides, we had to pay Tk 100 and Tk 50 at different points, Karim Bepari, a seasonal animal trader of Khulna, told this correspondent. It is totally baseless. We have already caught some brokers by conducting mobile court. We are monitoring the matter strictly and there is no scope such toll collection from cattle-carrying trucks, Rajbari police super Salma Begum told The Independent yesterday. She also claimed that no police personnel were involved in such toll collection. The cattle traders hope that the sale of their sacrificial animals will gather momentum from today (Wednesday). Meanwhile, lakhs of sacrificial animals are already there in different city markets on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest festivals of the Muslims. Today, I have sold two animals out of 10. The price is not high compared to last years. I have to count losses this year, Nuru Bepari told this correspondent at the Gabtali haat. He also said that many buyers had started buying animals, while others were still checking out the prices. Many animal-carrying trucks were stranded on different highways due to traffic jams, Hason Bepari said, adding that more animals would come to Dhaka before the Eid day. As many as 23 cattle markets, besides the permanent one at Gabtali, have been set up in different parts of the city. The temporary cattle markets under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) areMeradia Bazaar, Uttar Shajahanpur-Khilgaon rail gate, Balur Math adjacent to Brothers Union, Kamlapur adjacent to Stadium, Jhigatola Hazaribag Math, Rahmatganj playground, Kamrangirchar-south embankment of Buriganga, Armanitola playground, Dhupkhola East and Club ground, Postogula Swashanghat, Donia College playground, Shaympur Balur Math, and Sadek Hossain Khoka field with Dholaikhal truck terminal. The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) cattle markets areKuril 300-feet road areas, Basila, Mirpur DOHS, Sector-15 in Uttara, Khilkhet Banarupa, Asian city, Sayeednagar in Bhatara, Aftabnagar and Mirpur Section-6. The traders are coming to the city markets with their cattle heads by trucks and through river ways. According to the livestock department, a total of 1.15 crore sacrificial animals were ready to be sold against a demand of 1.10 crore this year. Of them, 44.57 lakh comprised cows and buffalos and 71 lakhs were goats and sheep. According to the traders estimates, around 25 lakh cattle would be available in the city markets, and the actual sale and purchase would likely begin from Wednesday. At present, some city buyers were visiting the markets to assess the prices, but were not making any purchases, the sellers said. Last year, the number of sacrificial animals was 1.5 crore. Many traders have already reached Gabtali with their animals and the selling of animals started from today. More animals will come to this market before Eid, Lutfor Rahman, lessee of the Gabtali market, told this correspondent.