City corporations still in limbo over management of cattle market sites

With Eid-ul-Azha at just around the corner, Dhaka's two city corporations are scrambling to finalise leasing processes for several targeted temporary cattle markets across the city.

Of these, 13 are under the jurisdiction of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and eight are under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

Although the cattle markets are scheduled to open on June 3, with the Eid-ul-Azha set to be celebrated on June 7, leases for six of them are still pending - raising serious concerns about the preparedness of these vital seasonal markets.

So far, DNCC has finalised the leases of nine of its previous targeted sites for 10 temporary markets by Saturday, while DSCC has secured bids for six.

Of the DNCC's nine markets, seven were awarded to highest bidders on Saturday.

Later on Saturday, DNCC has decided to lease markets in another three places, which has made their target to 13, said sources.

Besides, sacrificial animals will also be sold at the permanent markets in Gabtoli (DNCC) and Sarulia (DSCC) in the city.

Talking to the FE, DSCC officials revealed that they initially invited bids for 11 temporary markets, including locations in Aftabnagar and Meradia. However, due to legal complications, those two locations were later dropped.

The lease for the Shyampur-Kadamtoli market was also cancelled, bringing the number of DSCC's temporary markets down to eight.

Leasing processes for six sites - including vacant lots near North Shahjahanpur Maitree Club, Postogola cremation ground, Rahmatganj Club, the eastern side of the Institute of Leather Technology in Hazaribagh, east-west vacant plots of Sontech Women's Madrasa beside Donia College, and the north side of Amulia Aligarh Model College - have been finalised with the highest bidders.

However, bids for two other sites - a vacant space next to Sadeque Hossain Khoka Field and another beside Brothers Union Club - initially failed to meet the government's minimum base price, said Hasiba Khan, chief estate officer of DSCC.

The situation worsened when political unrest erupted over the oath-taking of BNP leader Ishraq Hossain, which led to DSCC headquarters being locked down.

As a result, DSCC was unable to issue work orders to winning bidders or re-tender the remaining markets, said officials.

DSCC is now awaiting instructions from the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives regarding these two unresolved markets, said Hasiba.

"Despite the time crunch, we're hopeful that preparations won't be hampered," she told the FE.

Meanwhile, DNCC plans to operate one permanent (Gabtoli) and 10 temporary cattle markets this year primarily.

But as of Sunday, one lease was yet to be finalised while the corporation has also decided set up cattle markets at newer three places.

Earlier, Mastul Check Post and the open space beside Dhaka Polytechnic Institute in Tejgaon were awarded to their bidders while another seven sites for makeshift markets were given to their highest bidders on Saturday.

This delay has left many prospective lessees anxious. They argue that at least two weeks are needed to adequately prepare a market - from logistical arrangements to publicity and coordination with cattle traders across the country.

Even the lease for the city's main permanent cattle market in Gabtoli remained undecided as of Saturday. A decision on one of the largest temporary markets in Uttara Diabari is also pending. The Kalshi Balur Math market in Mirpur failed to attract a bid that matched the government's set price, despite two tender rounds.

On Thursday afternoon, the evaluation committee met to assess bids for six of the temporary markets.

While preliminary decisions were made, the files have been forwarded to the DNCC Administrator's office for final approval. None of these leases have been officially confirmed yet.

DNCC had floated tenders for the 10 temporary markets on April 29. However, leasing processes for Eastern Housing Badda, Aftabnagar, and Bonorupa Khilkhet were cancelled following court orders.

Apart from two markets, none of the remaining ones received bids above the government's reserve price.

To fill the gap, DNCC later invited bids for two alternative locations - beneath the Khilkhet Elevated Expressway and near Kakakura's Rahmannagar market.

In the case of Mirpur-6's Eastern Housing market, the highest bid exceeded the government-set rate, but the top two bidders offered identical amounts, prompting a re-tender for that site and five others on May 24.

Additionally, tenders for three more markets are scheduled to open on Sunday.

If bids exceed the government's base price, the number of markets in Dhaka North could rise to 13 finally, said officials.

Meanwhile, seasonal traders and cattle rearers have started to enter Dhaka for last two days.

Visiting open space near Leather Technology College in Hazaribagh on the day, the FE found traders and representatives of market lessee were busy to make their places for next one week.

Rain has been disrupting to make the safer room for the sacrificial cattle, Hasibuir Rahman, a Jhinaidah-based trader, said.

"I have brought 15 cattle so far and another 20 will come based on the trading condition in next two days," he said.

He said if the rain continues like this, 25 to 30 per cent traders would avoid cattle trading.

However, the Department of Livestock Services have measured a total 12 million cattle including 4.8 million of cows are ready for sale in the country ahead of the sacrificial festival. Dhaka city expects a retailing of 1.5 million cattle.

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