Desk report: City residents fear that cattle markets may be set up on parks, roads, playgrounds and rail tracks like previous years, which will intensify public sufferings ahead of Eid-ul Azha,reports the Daily Sun.
They have expressed the concern after Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) decided to allow 13 cattle markets in the area.
The setting up of the makeshift cattle markets causes heavy traffic congestion on roads.Besides, waste all around cattle markets on playgrounds, rail tracks and parks pollutes surrounding environment. A DSCC notice has already mentioned the open spaces nearby parks, roads, playgrounds and rail tracks in different parts of the south city.But many DSCC residents complained that the cattle markets are usually set up on roads, playgrounds, parks and rail tracks every year.
In the situation, the DSCC residents fear a heavy traffic congestion and wastes on roads like the previous years due to mismanagement of sacrificial animals in the area.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that no makeshift cattle markets will be allowed in Dhaka city ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha
Talking to some residents during a visit to the recently-designated cattle market areas, it has been evident that this year’s cattle markets will also repeat last year’s woes to city residents.
The DSCC has designated an open space for setting up a makeshift cattle market in Dholaikhal area but while visiting the area no open space was found there.
A resident of the area, on condition of anonymity, said the cattle markets usually sit on roads and nearby Khoka Math.
A DSCC notice mentioned nearby open space of Armanitola for setting up cattle market but every year cattle markets grab a huge chunks of roads in the area due to space shortage.
The situation is also same at Shyampur Balurmath as the space cannot accommodate a large number of sacrificial animals.
Contacted, councilor Nur Hossain said the DSCC waste management department works sincerely to address the problem. He thinks that the DSCC mayor is aware of the problem.
The playgrounds at Lal Bagh and Rahmatganj, Moitri Songho playground of Shahjahanpur and Donia College playground are also used as cattle markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Rakibul Hasan, a student of Donia University College, said, “We cannot use our playground ahead of Eid-ul-Azha as the ground is used as cattle market.”
Mahbubur Rahman, a resident of Khalpar area of Kamrangirchar, said local people face huge traffic jam due to setting up cattle markets in the area.
Mohaammad Hossian, councilor of DSCC ward no. 56, said as the two roads in Khalpur are not so busy that is why we allow the cattle traders to set up makeshift cattle markets on the two roads in Khalpar area of Kamrangirchar.