A writ petition has been filed challenging the legality of a government notice leasing out a site for a Qurbani animal market in Aftabnagar in the capital. The secretary of the Local Government Ministry, the Dhaka South City Corporation, the chief land officer of Dhaka South City and others concerned have been named as respondents.
Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali Akond filed the writ with the relevant section of the High Court on Thursday 24 April. It seeks a stay on the lease notice for a Qurbani animal market (in Aftabnagar) for Eid-ul-Azha, published on 21 April.
On 21 April, the chief estate officer of Dhaka South City Corporation issued the lease notice for Qurbani animal markets for Eid-ul-Azha. The notice lists 11 markets in the capital, and Yunus Ali Akond's writ seeks the cancellation of the Aftabnagar part.
Hearing possible next week
The petitioner confirmed the matter to Jagonews and said the writ could be heard by a High Court bench next week.
He said Aftabnagar (Eastern Housing) is a planned residential area approved by RAJUK, like Dhanmondi and Gulshan. Thousands of people from all walks of life, including judges, live there in houses large and small, including high-rises, and about 7,000 plots have been allotted in the vast estate. If an animal market is held there, it will spread across the whole of Aftabnagar and there will be no end to people's suffering.
Which city corporation?
The lawyer said that under section 3(2) and the first schedule of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009, Aftabnagar (Eastern Housing) falls under ward 37 of Badda police station, which is part of Dhaka North City Corporation, and its councillor also belongs to Dhaka North City Corporation. In 2023, when Dhaka North City Corporation issued a lease notice for an animal market there, a writ was filed and the High Court stayed the lease. When the North City Corporation then appealed, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court allowed the lease for 2023 from beyond L Block, so the market that year was held beyond L Block. But because of the High Court writ, no animal market was held from A Block to H Block last year.
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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