Eid-ul-Azha: 21 cattle markets to open in Dhaka from July 17

The authorities have approved 21 markets, including two permanent ones at Gabtoli and Sarulia, for sacrificial animals in designated spots under the two city corporations of Dhaka ahead of Eid-ul-Azha amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to officials of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), 11 markets will be in DSCC and 10 in DNCC -- and all of them will operate while maintaining Covid-19 health safety rules.

Officials said both city corporations had taken necessary preparations in this regard ahead of Eid.

DSCC and DNCC officials told Dhaka Tribune that they would focus on ensuring hygiene in the cattle markets as the management of the markets would follow government directives.

DSCC Chief Executive Officer Farid Ahmed said the market management planned to complete all preparations by July 16 and open the markets from July 17.

They will remain open until July 21, when Bangladesh will celebrate Eid-ul-Azha.

He said an NGO would also assist people involved in market management while mobile courts would be in place to ensure law and order.

On the other hand, DNCC’s Chief Property Officer Mozammel Haque said the city corporation would keep buyers, sellers and leaseholders informed about maintaining hygiene rules at the cattle markets.

However, the law enforcement agencies would also be at the markets to maintain law and order and enforce the health safety rules, he added.

The designated spots for cattle markets under the DSCC include Postogola Shamshan Ghat area, open space adjacent to North Shahjahanpur and Khilgaon Railway Gate Bazar, open space adjacent to Institute of Leather Technology ground, open space adjacent to Meradia Bazar, Donia College at Jatrabari, Dhupkhola East End Club, open space adjacent to Dholakhal Truck Terminal, open space in Aftabnagar (Eastern Housing) Blocks E, F, G, and H (Section 1 and 2), open space adjacent to Rahmatganj Club, and Sarulia.

The designated spots for cattle markets under the DNCC include Uttara Sector 17 from Brindabon to Northside of BGME, Bhatara (Sayeednagar), open space of Badda Eastern Housing (Aftabnagar), Mohammadpur 40-feet Road (Basila) with Rajdhani Housing, open space of Shopnodhara housing and Basila Garden city, Mirpur 6, open space in Shahednagar Housing project at Uttarkhan Moinertek, both side roads of Dumni Bazar adjacent to Purbachal Bridge, open space at 300-feet Road with the north side of the Salam Steel ltd and Jumuna Housing Co, and individual and Gabtoli permanent spots at Mirpur.

Meanwhile, like last year and in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of websites are also set to sell sacrificial animals online, in a bid to help people avoid crowds.

The online marketplace Daraz is one of those websites, and it has initiated its "Qurbanir Haat", allowing customers to buy sacrificial animals through the Daraz app by studying photos, videos and details, including the weight, age, breed, and colour of the sacrificial animals.

The haat will continue till July 16.