Awami League men in an unholy nexus are allegedly controlling the cattle markets in the capital city of Dhaka to make a quick buck ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have set up 19 makeshift cattle markets apart from the biggest permanent cattle market at Gabtoli in the city before the Eid-ul-Azha.
Earlier, during the tender invitation those Awami League men threatened the DSCC officials concerned with dire consequence if they sold schedules to others.
Even though DSCC and DNCC authorities leased out each market to one person the reality is a syndicate of ruling party men has taken control of all the cattle markets in the city.
DSCC and DNCC invited tenders for its 19 makshift cattle markets in August on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
DSCC this year leased out 10 temporary cattle markets for about Tk61m while DNCC awarded its nine markets for about Tk50m.
On top of that, the largest permanent cattle market at Gabtoli was earlier leased out by the DNCC in April for one year for about Tk 81m including VAT.
The officials of both the city corporations in return for anonymity said Jubo League, Swechchasebak League, Chhatra League and other wings of the ruling party syndicates ruled the roost in the cattle markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha over the past four years.
Armanitola playgroud is the largest cattle market of the DSCC. Awami League President of the ward no 69 of DSCC Elias Rashid was awarded the market for TK 40m.
AL President of ward no 26 Nazimuddin Ahmed Nazu got Khilgaon Meradia Bazar cattle market for Tk2.7m, AL Joint Secretary of ward no 81 Kazi Kamrul Ahmed Khilgaon Railgate Moitree Sangha market for Tk4.5 lakh and party activist Zahidul Islam, brother of local AL leader Toriqul Islam Jigatola-Hazaribagh haat.
General Secretaty of Muslim Friends Club Abu Motaleb was awarded Rahmatganj playground, Zamir Ali Golapbag Haat, Mohammad Shamsuzzoha Dhupkhola East and Club field (Shamsuzzoha is the general secretary of the club), Hazi Rubel Miah Postagola Haat, Shohid Uddin Ahmed Balur Math which is adjoining to Brothers Union Club while Rashidul Haque Bhuian Sadek Hossain got Khoka playground.
In DNCC, Jubo League leader Mahbubur Rahman was awarded Uttara Azampur Primary School playground and its adjoining area for Tk7.2m and former Chhatra League leader Md Farid Ahmed Baridhara Bypass Road Hatt and another ruling party leader won Khilkhet Haat.
Mohammad Aslam got the free space adjoining to Banani Rail Station, Khokon Mridha was allocated the free space of Mirpur Eastern Housing.
The open space of Agargaon slum was awarded to Mozibor Rahman Khan.
When contacted chief estate officers of both DSCC and DNCC denied the allegation of syndication and said they leased out those markets to the highest bidders.
DSCC Chief Estate Officer Khalid Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune that DSCC leased out 9 makeshift cattle markets to the highest bidders.
“As we received the lowest bidding for the Armanitola playground at Nayabazar Haat and Moradia Bazar of Khilgaon we reinvited the tender for those two grounds,” he said.
DNCC Chief Estate Officer Md Fasiullah echoed him saying: “Every cattle market of DNCC has been leased out through open tender.”
“Allegation of political consideration in leasing out the cattle markets is baseless,” he added.
