Cattle markets on city roads
A NATIONAL daily on Monday reported that both the City Corporations are allowing ruling party men to set up makeshift cattle markets on roads and highways ignoring the ban, which will invariably block traffic movement and pedestrians safety. Moreover such people under the protection of powerful political leaders and muscle power of local goons have already started to gather sacrificial animals on roadside markets at some places and forcing traders to bring animals at their market when the Eid-ul-Azha is not yet in sight. We don’t know how the city corporations are allowing such market at busy places, which will run overnight for several days without taking into consideration the suffering of the city dwellers.
Another report said Awami League leaders and activists have taken lease of all temporary cattle markets in the capital to hold control of the brisk business involving several crores of taka in a single market. City Corporation officials are colluding with ruling party men to give leases of such markets to the vested interest quarters without tenders. There are also allegations that some businessmen who had collected tender papers to take part in the bid could not submit tenders under threat.
Irregularities centering temporary cattle markets before Eid-ul-Azha is not a new phenomenon in the city and at other places. Every year these things happen and are taking more acute form. The problem is that some people feel that Eid-ul-Azha brings to them the golden opportunity to earn easy money by resorting to unfair business such as cheating traders and buyers forcing them to pay huge commission and even taking away cash on many occasions. They are locally very influential and when politically powerful persons join hands, local administration also feel safe and benefiting by collaborating with them instead of earning their wraths. They also secure collaboration of law enforcers and take control of the market without fear of any administrative action. Most others become silent spectators instead of becoming victims in the hands of unruly elements.
Cattle traders also suffer on the way when bringing cattle to the markets; they suffer again to secure their life and money when they go. The temporary cattle markets become kingdom of unruly musclemen, where chaos and extreme indiscipline prevail without presence of strong oversight authority to make those markets safe.
Many wonder why Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation failed to lease out temporary cattle markets in a transparent way to bidders. If this process is not followed properly, if undue advantage prevails directly or indirectly, then no one can check the break down of law and order. If ruling party men and activists become seasonal traders and able to root out traders then chaos is inevitable everywhere in cattle market. Indiscipline in all sphere of life may force normal business practice out of the way.
Another report said Awami League leaders and activists have taken lease of all temporary cattle markets in the capital to hold control of the brisk business involving several crores of taka in a single market. City Corporation officials are colluding with ruling party men to give leases of such markets to the vested interest quarters without tenders. There are also allegations that some businessmen who had collected tender papers to take part in the bid could not submit tenders under threat.
Irregularities centering temporary cattle markets before Eid-ul-Azha is not a new phenomenon in the city and at other places. Every year these things happen and are taking more acute form. The problem is that some people feel that Eid-ul-Azha brings to them the golden opportunity to earn easy money by resorting to unfair business such as cheating traders and buyers forcing them to pay huge commission and even taking away cash on many occasions. They are locally very influential and when politically powerful persons join hands, local administration also feel safe and benefiting by collaborating with them instead of earning their wraths. They also secure collaboration of law enforcers and take control of the market without fear of any administrative action. Most others become silent spectators instead of becoming victims in the hands of unruly elements.
Cattle traders also suffer on the way when bringing cattle to the markets; they suffer again to secure their life and money when they go. The temporary cattle markets become kingdom of unruly musclemen, where chaos and extreme indiscipline prevail without presence of strong oversight authority to make those markets safe.
Many wonder why Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation failed to lease out temporary cattle markets in a transparent way to bidders. If this process is not followed properly, if undue advantage prevails directly or indirectly, then no one can check the break down of law and order. If ruling party men and activists become seasonal traders and able to root out traders then chaos is inevitable everywhere in cattle market. Indiscipline in all sphere of life may force normal business practice out of the way.
