Lessees cannot collect any extra money beyond the government-set hasil (market fee) on the buying and selling of animals at markets, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjad Ali.

He said vehicles carrying animals from different parts of the country cannot be forced into any market, and each cattle market must be kept within the boundaries set by the city corporation.

He said this at a coordination meeting on security and traffic management at cattle markets for Eid-ul-Azha, held in the conference room of DMP Headquarters on the morning of Sunday (1 June).

Sheikh Mohammad Sajjad Ali said sacrificial animals cannot be loaded and unloaded just anywhere. Strict legal action will be taken against anyone who disrupts traffic on the roads or forces traders to sell their animals. He also gave the necessary instructions so that no one can charge extra fares for carrying animals bought at the markets.

At the meeting, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md Sarwar said people should call the national emergency service 999 with any problem, and keep evidence by recording video. He asked people not to misbehave with traffic police members responsible for order on the roads. Strict action will be taken against any unwanted or undesirable behaviour, or against anyone who blocks a road to hold a cattle market.

Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) S N Md Nazrul Islam said the animal market must be kept within the market boundaries. Under no circumstances can a market be set up on the road and cause public suffering. Necessary legal action will be taken against anyone who tries to destabilise the sacrificial animal market by spreading rumours of a shortage or creating an artificial crisis.

Representatives of various intelligence agencies and specialised police units attended the meeting, along with Bangladesh Bank, the Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology of Dhaka University, the Department of Livestock Services, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation, the Fire Service and Civil Defence, DPDC, DESCO, the Dhaka district administration, various government and private service agencies, the salt traders' association, the Bangladesh Tanners Association, and representatives of the individuals or firms holding leases on cattle markets in Dhaka city.

At the start of the meeting, DMP Joint Police Commissioner (Operations) Mohammad Shahidullah presented the overall security and traffic management plan for the cattle markets in a PowerPoint presentation. Representatives of the agencies present and of the cattle market lessees then took part in an open discussion, putting forward their views, suggestions and problems.

Also present were DMP Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md Sarwar, Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) S N Md Nazrul Islam, Additional Police Commissioner (Logistics, Finance and Procurement) Hasan Md Shawkat Ali, Additional Police Commissioner (CTTC) Md Masud Karim, joint police commissioners, deputy police commissioners and police officers of various ranks, and representatives of the agencies concerned.

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