Though cattle markets in the city were choc-a-bloc with sacrificial animals on Saturday, on the eve of formal opening Sunday. Cattle traders said they are facing massive extortion in several places on their way to the capital. It is alleged that ruling party men in aid of a section of law enforcers are realising money forcefully from the cattle traders. Sources said traders from across the country had started bringing in their cattle to the 20 markets earmarked by the two Dhaka city corporations about a week ago. Visits to the cattle markets at Dhupkhola playground, Golapbagh ground, Brothers Union playground and Agargaon, revealed that they were saturated with sacrificial animals. The market at Brothers Union playground was full to capacity with cows, buffaloes and goats encroaching on surrounding lanes and roads, affecting traffic and residents in the area.
Officials of the two city corporations said magisterial courts were working to identify illegal portions of the earmarked markets and remove the encroachments.
Traders complained that they were forced to lower the price of their cattle because a record number of cows and buffaloes were imported from India this time. Besides, a large number of cattle were also smuggled in from the neighbouring country.
According to a source, about 19.30 lakh cattle were imported from India in the past nine years. The traders alleged that a section of ruling party activists in connivance with the police were extorting money from them at different places, including Aricha, Bangabandhu Bridge and Mawaghat on their way to Dhaka.
Our Manikganj correspondent reported that some elements with vested interests were demanding money from cattle traders on behalf of the police and different associations. Moreover, the traders were forced to pay double and triple fare to cross the Padma and Jamuna rivers.
The traders were allegedly forced to pay extortion money at 10 to 12 places, including both sides of Bangabandhu Bridge and Amin Bazar. Local criminals, ruling party activists and law enforcers were taking Tk. 200 to Tk. 300 per vehicle from cattle traders.
According to corporation officials, the cattle markets will be leased out for four days from October 13 till Eid on October 16.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have leased out 20 cattle haats, including the permanent market at Gabtoli, for about Tk. 20 crore.
The DSCC has leased out 10 markets for over Tk. 6 crore. The markets are Hazaribagh, Rahmatganj playground, Meradia Bazar, Sadeque Hossain Khoka ground, Golapbagh ground, Armanitola, North Shajahanpur, Dhupkhola playground, Brothers Union playground and Postagola.
The DNCC has leased out 10 cattle haats, including the permanent one at Gabtoli, for Tk. 13.67 crore. The nine other markets are Uttara-Azampur, Khilkhet-Banorupa Residential Area, Agargaon, Taltola, Mirpur Ward No. 6, Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, Baridhara “J” Block, Uttara Section Nos.13-16 and Banani-Kakoli.
Talking to The Independent, chief executive officer of DSCC Ansar Ali said they have taken measures to ensure a congenial atmosphere in the cattle markets both for buyers
and sellers and cleanliness of the markets.
Chief estate officer of the DSCC Khalid Ahmed said they leased out 10 markets for over Tk. 6 crore which is more than the previous year.
He said several conditions, including keeping the cattle within the periphery of the markets, tying the animals to bamboo poles and not to realise more than five per cent of hasil (tax), were imposed on lessees to run the cattle markets. “If any lessee violates the condition, he or she will be fined,” he added.
“Magistrate courts and police have been deployed to maintain law and order and control over the cattle markets so that buyers and sellers are not harassed,” said the DSCC official. He said the DSCC would deploy two mobile teams to monitor the situation of the markets. Besides, coordinated efforts were being made to ensure cleanliness in the cattle markets.
Chief estate officer of the DNCC Mohammad Fasiullah said they have leased out 10 markets for Tk. 13.67 crore, which is almost double than the previous year.
He said the DNCC has taken measures to ensure proper management of the haats. The measures include maintaining law and order, ensuring safety and security of buyers and sellers, protecting them from “molom” (snatchers, who used balms on eyes) party, deploying police, Ansar and magistrates to discourage temporary haats, conducting mobile courts, installation of CCTV, establishments, necessary number of booths and machine detecting fake currency, he said.
The DNCC official hoped that this time the cattle buyers and sellers would get a better environment in the haats.
A cow trader said traders have been bringing sacrificial animals to the city markets from different parts of the country, including Rangpur, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Bogra, Faridpur, Jessore, Kushtia and Chuadanga.
Besides, a large number of Indian cows were brought to the cattle markets through different border points.
Traders said that many people were arriving at Gabtoli haat only to have glimpses of camels and “dumbas” in particular.
Our Chuadanga correspondent reported that cattle traders both from Dhaka and other districts had started buying sacrificial animals from local markets from early this month.
There are seven to eight local cattle markets in Chuadanga where all kinds of cows, including the ones imported from India, and other animals are found.
Local traders and farmers were being affected allegedly because of not getting a just price for their cattle this time. A cow that can produce 80 kg of beef was being sold at Tk. 23,000 as opposed to Tk. 35,000 last year.
Our Jessore correspondent, however, reported that the price of sacrificial animals in the local markets was more this year.
Sources said two to three cow-laden trucks from India were entering Bangladesh through Benapole every night. Besides, one to two trucks were entering Dhaka from domestic markets.
-With The Independent input
