Of the 22 temporary animal markets in the capital for Eid ul Azha, the lease for seven haats has not be finalized as yet. In Dhaka city south, six haats of a total of 13 did not get any tenders, while in Dhaka north, eight from ten were finalized with one cancelled for being in a residential area.
It’s believed that a powerful syndicate worked to ensure that tenders were not submitted for particular haats.
Despite tenders not being finalized for seven haats of two city corporations, animals to be sold for Eid ul Azha have started to arrive.
Seven haats in total did not participate at the tenders, which is part of a strategy by a syndicate who will then give the city corporations a derisory amount and earn crores from selling animals.
The non-leased haats of Dhaka south are: sand field near Brothers Union Club, open space near Kamlapur station, Armanitola field, Dhupkhola field, open space near Dania College, Sadek Hossain field area and open space near Dholaikhal truck terminal.
Preparations are underway to establish haats in these areas without lease. Makeshift shelters for animals to be sold are being made along with gates and other structures.
Asked about the haats without leases, Dhaka South City Corporation, DSCC, chief property official, Abdul Malek, said: “we have sent letters to the ministries over the six non-leased haats and will take action as per their instructions.”
The finalized haats are permitted to operate for four days including Eid day though the ones with lease orders can take preparation from six-seven days prior to Eid.
The seven leased haats of Dhaka South City are: open space near Moradia bazaar, Uttar Shahjahanpur open space, Zigatola Hazaribagh open space, Rahmatganj open space, open space near Buriganga dam, Postogola crematorium space and Shyampur open space.
There will be ten haats in Dhaka north city with one near Asian City cancelled to facilitate the Hajj pilgrims in nearby camp.
The finalized haats are: open space in Uttara sector 15, open space in Mirpur DOHS, Mirpur open space for Eastern Housing, Basila in Mohammadpur, open space of police lines, Khilkhet Bonorupa residential area and others.
Chief property official of Dhaka north city corporation, Aminul Islam, told Bangla Tribune: “in our leased haats, animals have come only at Gabtoli; formal permission to prepare for haats hasn’t arrived as yet.”
However, since Eid is near, people can take necessary preparation, he added.
Due to the syndicate controlled non-leased haats, both the city corporations will lose around Tk. 15 crore as revenue.
The total price of 13 leases for south city for this year is Tk. 12 crore 18 lakh 37 thousand 675 while for the north the amount stands at Tk. 12 crore 85 lakh 53 thousand 77.