Kamruzzaman Bablu :
On the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of Muslims, two Dhaka City Corporations have decided to set up 26 makeshift cattle markets in the city for selling sacrificial animals.
Officials of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on Tuesday said that they have already invited tenders for the cattle markets that would run for three days so that the city dwellers can buy their sacrificial animals.
Of them, the DSCC has already invited 14 tenders where DNCC called 12 tenders for the cattle markets. But due to border complexity, both the City Corporations have invited tenders for Aftabnagar Haat. They claimed that the Aftabnagar Haat is situated in their area.
The permanent cattle market in Gabtoli will run as usual, the officials said.
Meanwhile, the DSCC got 11 tenders out of 14 makeshift cattle markets. Both the City Corporations would also go for re-tenders if they do not get satisfactory offers, sources said.
According to the City Corporation officials, influential political leaders of the ruling party are trying to take out a lease on the temporary markets. They are lobbying with the authorities.
Under this situation, the experienced lessees of the cattle markets are apprehending misuse of power in the allocation of cattle markets. They have sought intervention of the higher authorities so that the bidding can be completed in a fair process.
They said, the cattle markets of DSCC will be located at Daokandhi-Indulia Vaghapur Nagar ground with the east side of Loharpool and free spaces adjoining it, Kauarteck ground under 41 No Ward and adjoining free spaces, surrounding of Amulia Model Town and adjoining free spaces, Moitri Shangha ground adjoining Railgate Bazar at North Shahjahanpur, Shyampur Balurmath at Kadamtoli, Meradia Bazar at Khilgaon, Jigatala-Hajaribagh ground beside Leather Engineering College, Rahmatganj Playground at Lalbagh, Kamrangirchar Islam Chairmanbari adjoining the Buriganga River dame, Shamsabad ground in 32 No Ward including nearby its area, Littil Club ground at Gopibagh as well as the free spaces adjoining it, Dhupkhola East and Club ground, the free spaces adjoining to Kamalapur Stadium near the Kamalapur Railway Station, Donia College playground at Jatrabari and Postogola Shashanghat.
The cattle markets of DNCC will be located in the Bashundhara Residential Area near Khilkhet’s 300-Foot Road, Bosila Police Lines free spaces near the Mohammadpur Intellectual Graveyard, open space in the northern part of Mirpur DOHS and its north side and Eastern Housing in Mirpur Section 6, Sector 15 of Uttara Residential Model Town as well as the free spaces at Khilkhet Banarupa Housing, adjacent free space of Kowla-Shealdangga, playground of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, free space of Uttar Khan-Moynarteck Shahidnagar Housing, Block-E of Badda Eastern Housing and its free spaces and Syed Nagar cattle market in Bhatara.
This year, DSCC aims to earn around Tk 13.18 crore from leasing the cattle markers while DNCC targets Tk 14.85 crore.
Last year, a total of 22 cattle markets were set up at different open spaces in the city, the officials said.
