The Dhaka City Corporation authorities have approved 10 makeshift cattle markets in the capital this year against the last year's 12 on the occasion of the forthcoming Eid-ul-Azha festival. The number of makeshift cattle markets will decline this year as no such markets have been allowed on the streets or open spaces as per a High Court directive, corporation sources said.

The 10 cattle markets will be set up on open space adjacent to Chitra cinema at Armanitola (Nayabazar), Jhigatola-Hazaribagh ground, Balurmath of Gopibagh at Kamalapur (Near Brothers' Union club), Meradia Bazar playground, open space at Taltala near the LGED Bhaban, Agargaon, open space near Agargaon slum (western side of Betar Bhaban), open space near Outfall Staff Quarter at Ward 85, Rahamatganj playground, Dhupkhola ground, open space of Khilkhet Banarupa Residential project.

Apart from the makeshift markets, the permanent Gabtali cattle market used to sell highest number of sacrificial animals every year. This year, there will be no cattle markets on Hosseni Dalan Road (from Chankharpul crossing to Bakshibazar traffic signal) and Shahjahal and Isa Khan Roads at Uttara. Makeshift cattle markets on the two places were allowed in the last few years. 'We will not allow any cattle markets on the busy roads taking into account the nagging traffic congestion in the city,' the Dhaka mayor, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, said.

Asked when the cattle markets will be set up and start selling sacrificial animals Khoka said, 'We are yet to take decision in this regard.' He, however, said makeshift cattle markets usually start selling sacrificial animals three days before Eid ul-Azha.' On June 29, the High Court in a judgement over a writ petition directed the city corporation not to allow any cattle market on open spaces or streets on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. The court also asked the corporation to dispose of the remains of sacrificial animals within 24 hours after they are slaughtered.

Meanwhile, the city corporation has decided to float tender again for two out of 10 cattle markets as their quotations are much lower than that of the previous years. Quotation for Outfall Staff Quarters cattle market at Ward 85 has declined to Tk 12 lakh from last year's Tk 63 and quotation for Meradia Bazar declined to eight lakh from Tk 25 lakh. Besides, the corporation is likely to float tender again for the cattle market at Balurmath near Brothers' Union club. The quotation for the market is Tk 85 lakh against last year's 72 lakh.

Corporation officials said they will invite tender again for Balurmath cattle market as the bidder who got the market might have submitted a 'fake' bank draft. 'We have information that the bidder has submitted fake bank draft and we are now investigating the matter. If it proves true that the bank draft is false, the corporation will go for legal action against the bidder and float tender again for the market,' corporation's executive magistrate Khalil Ahmed told New Age. He also said, 'the corporation will also float tender again for Outfall Staff Quarter and Meradia Bazar cattle markets, as quotations for the two markets are much lower than that of the previous years.' Although more than 742 tenders had been sold, only 48 of them submitted tenders for 10 makeshift cattle markets because of syndication, corporation sources said.

-New Age