Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) plan to hold 27 temporary cattle markets in the capital for the coming Eid-ul-Azha. The two bodies have already leased 19 of them. At the other eight, either the expected price was not offered or no one submitted a tender, so DNCC and DSCC have invited fresh tenders.

Among the leased markets, the highest bid was for the market in the Boubazar area next to Sectors 16 and 18 of Diabari in Uttara, at Tk 14 crore 15 lakh. In the south, the highest bid was Tk 4 crore 35 lakh for the market stretching from Kajla Bridge to the Matuail Mridhabari water pump. The highest bidders have already taken possession of these markets.

Besides the temporary markets, the permanent Gabtoli cattle market in the north and the permanent Sarulia cattle market in the south will also sell sacrificial animals. Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated in the country on 28 May, and the markets will trade animals for five days including Eid day.

DNCC invited separate tenders for 12 markets on 9 April and four more on 28 April. Md Sirajul Islam, proprietor of M/s Islam Enterprise, won the empty land next to Eastern Housing in Mirpur Section 6 for Tk 1 crore 79 lakh. Redowan Rahman took the empty land next to the Kalshi Balur Math in Mirpur for Tk 30 lakh 11 thousand; Md Aminul Islam, proprietor of Sikder Enterprise, the empty land next to Dhaka Polytechnic Institute for Tk 3 crore 87 lakh; M Aslam the empty land beside Iqra Madrasa in East Hajipara, Ward 23, for Tk 12 lakh 53 thousand; and Md Sheikh Farid Hossain, owner of SF Corporation, the Boubazar area next to Sectors 16 and 18 of Diabari in Uttara for Tk 14 crore 15 lakh.

In addition, Rafiqul Islam Sarkar won the Rahman Nagar residential area next to Kanchkura Bazar in Ward 44 for Tk 27 lakh; Billal Hossain the empty land in Paschim Para next to the Mastul checkpost in Khilkhet for Tk 3 crore 7 lakh; Muhammad Abul Kalam Azad, owner of Arifin and Ara Enterprise, the Banarupa residential project area for Tk 1 crore 80 lakh 10 thousand; Muhammad Tuhinur Islam the empty land of Swadesh Properties in Badda for Tk 2 crore 33 lakh; and Md Ataur Rahman, proprietor of AM Enterprise, the empty land of Bashundhara Group in Boro Beraid for Tk 5 crore 70 lakh.

No acceptable bid or tender was received for six sites: the space under the elevated expressway next to Khilkhet Bazar (Tk 1 crore 51 lakh), the empty land next to Merul Badda kitchen market in Ward 21 (Tk 14 lakh), the empty land beside the 40-foot road in Bosila, Mohammadpur (Tk 1 crore 96 lakh 20 thousand 456), the empty land next to the Sutivola canal in Bhatara (Tk 3 crore 12 lakh 76 thousand), the stretch from Bhatulia Saheb Ali Madrasa to the Uttara sluice gate next to Runner Vola Avenue, Sector 10 (Tk 88 lakh 20 thousand 750), and the T&T field in Mohakhali (Tk 50 lakh). Retendering is under way for these.

DNCC public relations officer Zobayer Hossain told Jago News that the sites have been handed over for the 10 markets where highest bidders were found, and fresh tenders have been invited for the other six. The DNCC estate department will lease them if acceptable bids are received.

DSCC advertised 11 markets on 16 April, and by 14 May highest bidders had been found for nine. Kazi Mahbub Mawla Himel won the empty land on the Buriganga riverbank west of the Postogola crematorium ghat for Tk 4 crore 1 lakh. He told Jago News that farmers have already begun bringing animals, especially from Kushtia and Faridpur, but sales have not yet started.

Anisur Rahman Tipu won the empty land of the Uttar Shahjahanpur Maitri Sangha Club for Tk 3 crore 12 lakh 36 thousand; Md Joynal Abedin Ratan the empty land of Amulia Model Town for Tk 2 crore 15 lakh; Nafiz Kabir, proprietor of M/s Safi Enterprise, the empty land of Amin Mohammad Group next to Sikder Medical for Tk 4 crore 20 lakh; and Md Shamim Khan, proprietor of KB Trade, the unused land along the road from Kajla Bridge to the Matuail Mridhabari water pump for Tk 3 crore 65 lakh.

Md Shamim Khan told Jago News that since winning the lease he has been arranging space for the animals and the preliminary work of setting up the market is done. Farmers bring animals to Dhaka from across the country to make buying easier for city residents, who complete their sacrifice by buying from them. Every year there is a festive atmosphere at the markets, with many going with their families to see and buy animals, and he hopes trade will be festive this time too.

Md Golam Hossain won the empty land of Green Banasree Housing next to Mostomajhi crossing for Tk 70 lakh; Mohammad Ismail Hossain the empty land south-east of Brothers Union Club for Tk 1 crore 40 lakh; Amir Hossain, proprietor of Baraka Enterprise, the empty land north of the Outfall staff quarters in Golapbagh for Tk 53 lakh 93 thousand 334; and Tipu Sultan, president of Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society, the empty land of Rahmatganj Club for Tk 75 lakh 18 thousand.

No acceptable bid or tender was received for the other two: the empty land next to the Sadeque Hossain Khoka playground and the empty land of the Shyampur Kadamtali truck stand. It has not been decided whether they will be retendered or run through direct (khas) collection.

DSCC chief estate officer Mohammad Mobassher Hasan told Jago News that nine markets have been leased so far and the expected price was not received for the other two, so the divisional commissioner's office has been asked for its opinion on what to do under the rules.

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