A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking orders to stop the collection of hasil (market fees) at all cattle markets in the country, including the capital. The petition also seeks an order that no cattle market (for selling cows and goats) ever be held in future at the Aftabnagar residential area of the capital, to reduce public suffering.

The respondents are the secretary of the local government ministry, the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, the chief estate officer of Dhaka North City Corporation, the chairman of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, Eastern Housing and the Dhaka deputy commissioner (DC).

Advocate Md Yunus Ali Akond filed the petition in the public interest with the relevant section of the High Court, seeking protection of the environment. He confirmed the petition to Jago News on Thursday 7 September and said it was due to be heard by a High Court division bench the following week.

He said he had filed a writ petition in May this year, before Eid-ul-Azha. The court then issued a rule and stayed the market tender process, but the Appellate Division later stayed that order and the writ became ineffective. "So I have filed a fresh petition. It seeks a rule and a halt to the collection of hasil at all cattle markets in the country."

Earlier, around Eid-ul-Azha, the High Court had extended its order staying the leasing process for a sacrificial animal market at Aftabnagar.

The petitioner said that on 22 May the High Court, acting on a writ, had stayed the leasing process for the cattle market. When the stay expired, it was extended in stages.

On 31 May a hearing was held in the chamber judge court of Justice M Enayetur Rahim of the Supreme Court's Appellate Division. Finally, on 14 June, the Appellate Division stayed the High Court's order.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.