Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said the government is ready to strongly monitor the cattle markets but awareness among the mass people will be much more effective.
"This year, the challenge is new for us," he said adding that maintaining law and order is always a challenging task.
Asaduzzaman made these remarks while addressing a webinar arranged by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) on current law and order situation and health safety issues at cattle markets during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
He said the government is committed to strictly maintaining the law and order situation.
"Our police department is hard working. They have discharged their duties continuously during the lockdown period," he added.
Attending the webinar, DCCI President Shams Mahmud said they are going through a tough time because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We’re in such a crisis that if we imbed cattle markets, it may spread Covid-19 and if we do not allow cattle markets, it may cause a huge loss to the animal farmers," said the DCCI chief.
To maintain a balance in this situation, "Digital Haat or digital cattle market would be a better option," he said adding that the organizers should be more cautious about health safety issues.
Dr Zia Rahman, professor and founding chairman of Dhaka University’s criminology department, presented the keynote paper.
He highlighted that in the wake of globalization, the economy of Bangladesh has been hit hard.
"We cannot avoid health risks in the upcoming Eid, but we might be able to minimize the risks as best as we can through abiding by the issued health safety measures," he said.
Md Shaheen Ahamed, chairman of Bangladesh Tanners Association, said although it will be hard to maintain the health safety directives in a cattle market, there are no other alternatives to awareness.
He also suggested imposing a penalty if anyone does not wear a mask.
Md Helal Uddin, former vice president of FBCCI and president of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, suggested all to take several masks with them while buying sacrificial animals from the cattle markets.
Attending the webinar, Shomi Kaiser, president of e-CAB and director of FBCCI, said that the Covid-19 lockdown helped the country’s e-commerce to thrive.
Before the Covid-19 outbreak, 22% of people under internet penetration bought goods using e-commerce which has doubled during the pandemic.
The growth momentum of e-commerce business has got its pace in the last 4 to 5 years, Shomi Kaiser added.
Mohammad Bashiruddin, vice president of DCCI and Waqar Ahmad Choudhury, its director, and former senior vice president, among others were present at the webinar.
Directors engineer Md Al Amin, Md Shahid Hossain, Enamul Haque Patwary, Deen Mohammed, Monowar Hossain, former senior vice presidents Alhaj Abdus Salam, former vice presidents M Abu Horairah, Md Alauddin Malik, Kh Shahidul Islam, Md Riyadh Hossain, former directors Khair M Khan, Syed Habibur Rahman, Nazir Hossain, Data Magfur, convenor, Barrister Siam Al Deen Malik also spoke on the occasion.
