Traders bring animals in city defying time bar
In a bid to take up a favourable spot, traders are bringing sacrificial animals to the capital's makeshift markets nearly a week ahead of the period Dhaka city corporations had allowed for their arrival marking Eid-ul Azha on October 27.
The city corporations (south and north) had allowed four days, from October 24, for traders to bring sacrificial animals and for running the 19 sites leased out across the city this year to minimise traffic congestion and public nuisance.
However, this correspondent yesterday found most markets running.
Many traders are sending their representatives to reserve favourable spots. A banner in one part of a market in Kamalapur's Balurmath reads “This is the spot for Pabna's Rob Bepari to keep his 50 cows."
Though the market leaseholders are not supposed to charge Hasil, a percentage of the price paid by the buyers of sacrificial animals, in excess of the four days, some of them were found involved in the malpractice.
It is totally illegal to run the markets in excess of the four days, said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Estate Officer Mohammad Didarul Alam.
DSCC Executive Magistrate Ananda Kumar Biswas said a meeting over the irregularities would be held in DSCC tomorrow and a drive would be carried out as per the meeting's instructions.
Legal action would be taken against the leaseholders found to have crossed the specific boundary lines delineated for their markets. No market has been allowed on the streets, he said.
Ananda said legal action would also be taken against leaseholders charging in excess of the Hasil rate, fixed at five percent of the purchase price this year.
Moreover, DSCC will deploy health inspectors to detect and remove sick animals from the markets, he said.
The markets in DSCC are in Kamalapur's Balurmath; Dhupkhola's East End Club field; playgrounds of Jigatala-Hajaribagh, Rahmatganj, Meradia Bazar, Armanitola, Maitri Shangha in Khilgaon and Sadeque Hossain Khoka; the Adarsha School field and its adjoining open spaces in Golapbagh; and an open space adjoining Postogola crematory.
Dhaka North City Corporation leased markets in Uttara Azampur Government Primary School field; Dhaka Polytechnic Institute's playground; open spaces in Bonorupa Housing Project, Agargaon Slum, Eastern Housing in Mirpur Section-6 and Sonargaon Janopath in Uttara Sector-11; open spaces adjoining Taltala Bus Stop and Banani-Kakoli Rail Station; and a roadside open space in Baridhara Block J.
Besides, the Gabtoli cattle market runs throughout the year.
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