The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) authority has decided to set up a temporary cattle market at Azampur Government Primary School playground and its adjoining areas again, without seeking permission from the school authority and disregarding the sufferings of the residents.
Although the local government body had assured the Dhaka Tribune last year that the cattle market would be relocated elsewhere to end the hardships of the students, commuters and local residents, no changes were made regarding the location of the cattle market this year and DNCC flouted a tender inviting leasers in this regard.
Every year, the city corporation organises a temporary cattle market for Eid-ul-Azha on the Azampur Primary School playground and its adjoining areas on Section-6 of Uttara Residential Model Town in the capital.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, several residents and students of some 20 educational institutes have alleged that the cattle market does no good for the locals as the city corporation also organises another large cattle market at Sector-10 and 11.
At the same time, locals and DNCC sources have alleged that several influential leaders of different associate bodies of the ruling party had been forcing the city corporation to set up the cattle market on the school premises for some quick cash.
Last year, the tender for setting up the Azampur cattle market was awarded to Jubo League leader Mahbubur Rahman at a bid of Tk72,00,000 only.
Meanwhile, authorities of Azampur Primary School have alleged that the DNCC continues to set the cattle market on the school compound without seeking permission.
Nargis Sultana, headmaster of Azampur Primary School, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Every year, the cattle market leaves the school compound in a very sorry state. There are holes and animal waste everywhere and the school children can no longer play there.”
“Not only does the cattle market damage the playground, the pungent smell of animal waste rotting on the ground ruins the educational environment of the school,” she explained.
Saying that the authorities had repeatedly tried to stop the DNCC from setting up the cattle market on the school compound, she added: “After the cattle market ends, DNCC does very little to clean the animal waste.”
At the same time, officials and students of nearby schools have also expressed that they face hardships every year due to the cattle market.
An official of Delhi Public School (DPS), seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Students and guardians face difficulty when arriving at the school as a huge numbers of cattle block the roads.”
“Sometimes we have to suspend classes from a week in advance to avoid the problems caused by this cattle market,” he added.
Earlier in 2013, DNCC's former chief estate officer Md Fasiullah told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are concerned about the cattle markets at Azampur Government Primary School, Agargaon and Taltola. We are planning to shift the markets to other spots from next Eid (this year).”
However, DNCC only managed to cancel the Taltala market and will be going ahead with the Azampur and Agargaon cattle markets.
When contacted, DNCC Chief Estate Officer Aminul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have arranged the cattle market for the locals so that they can purchase their sacrificial animal easily.”
Echoing the same view, DNCC Chief Executive Officer BM Enamul Haque said: “After Eid every year, we clear the playground properly. Besides, we also pay the school authority every year for using the playground.”