16 temporary cattle markets in Dhaka for Eid-ul-Azha
M Faruque Hossain
The north and south Dhaka city corporations are going to set up 16 makeshift cattle markets in the capital for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, which is likely to be observed on September 24.
The DSCC will set up 10 cattle markets, while the DNCC will set up the remaining six. Apart from these, there is a permanent cattle market in Gabtoli. The DNCC and DSCC authorities have already called for tenders for the lease of cattle markets.
Sources in both city corporations said that no cattle markets will be allowed in front of schools, colleges and hospitals, especially in places like the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area of Agargaon in the capital, which houses several hospitals. Each year, cattle markets in the area cause severe suffering to the people living there and those who come to seek medical attention to the hospitals.
The DNCC has called for tenders for the Khilkhet Banorupa Residential project areas open space for a makeshift market of sacrificial animals. Apart from this the Mirpur Section-6, Ward-06 and the Eastern Housing area, Uttara Sector 15 and 16, the Kuril Flyover adjacent to the 300 square feet street near the Purbachal and the Basundhara Convention Centre area, Mirpur Section-11, Ward-05 and the Baunia Open field, the Rayerbazar Graveyard and the proposed West Police Line open space have been identified as other areas for setting up temporary cattle markets.
The DSCC is scheduled to set up 10 makeshift cattle markets, but had to reschedule the tendering process for four sites as the bid price was lower than expected.
The DSCC cattle markets will be set up at the Jhigatola Hajaribagh Ground, the Rahmatganj Play ground, Khilgaon Meradiabazar, the Sadek Hossai Khoka field, Shahjahanpur Khilgaon Railgate adjacent to the Maitree Sangha field, the Dhupkhola East End Club ground, the Gopibagh Brothers Union play ground, the open space at the Postagola crematorium, the Lalbagh Haji Delowar Hossain playground and the Buriganga Dam area.
Aminul Islam, Chief Estate
Officer, DNCC, told The Independent that all preparations to control the situation have been made at a board meeting held at the corporations office. DNCC mayor, Annisul
Haque and other senior officials also attended the meeting. The mayor has directed to appoint extra people to clean the cattle markets within 24 hours after the end of selling on the Eid day.
We are setting up temporary police camps in the market areas to ensure security of cattle traders. We are also setting up veterinary pharmacies to look after the health of the animals and check on illegal hormones being injected to cattle, he said. There will be a team in each cattle market to check for fake currency notes and a team of law enforcement personnel will arrest them if any illegal currency is found in the market area, he added.
Meanwhile, there are allegations that a number of syndicates, mostly led by a section of leaders of the ruling party and its associated bodies, have taken control of the cattle markets in the capital in the recent years.
Earlier, Jahangir Alam, presidential candidate for AL Ward 28 and President of Mamota Bahumukhi Samabaya Samity, wanted to take out a lease on the Agargaon Cattle Market. But Jahangir, 45, was shot dead by some assailants in front of his West Agargaon residence due to an internal party feud over the tender for the cattle market, said police sources.
The border areas too expect a boost in cattle trading as the biggest Muslim festival of animal sacrifice draws near. The traders expect to import cattle heads from India without any hassle after the two neighbouring countries signed a memorandum of understanding allowing cattle trade during the Eid festival.
