DSCC, DNCC yet to decide on eight makeshift cattle markets

With just 12 days left before the Eid-ul-Adha vacation, both Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) are struggling to finalise leases for eight temporary cattle markets (haats), casting uncertainty over this critical seasonal trade.

Out of 21 temporary haats initially planned by the two corporations, only 18 remain there as High Court directives suspended three. Of these, leases for just 10 have been finalised so far.

DNCC had proposed 10 temporary markets on April 29 last, but a court injunction halted operations at the Aftab Nagar site, reducing the number to nine.

Bids were received for eight of these on May 15, while the Kalshi Math market saw a bidder withdrawal.

Among the bids, four exceeded the government-fixed base price.

Surmi Enterprise secured the Khilkhet Mastul Checkpost market lease as the top bidder.

However, controversy arose over the Dhaka Polytechnic Institute market, where FF Corporation was awarded the lease for Tk 14 million, despite a significantly higher offer of Tk 21.7 million from Giant Enterprise.

Another market in Mirpur Section-6 drew two identical bids of Tk 20 million each, prompting DNCC to initiate a re-tender process.

A DNCC official confirmed that two markets had been leased in the first phase, while Bonarupa Residential Area's market remained suspended by a court order.

The second phase of bidding for the remaining markets is scheduled for today (Monday).

Attempts to contact DNCC's Chief Estate Officer Mohammad Shaukat Osman were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, operations at DSCC have been paralysed for over nine working days due to protests demanding swearing-in of BNP leader Engineer Ishraq Hossain as mayor, following a court ruling. The deadlock has severely hampered lease finalisation for temporary markets.

DSCC initially announced operation of 11 markets on April 21. However, court orders suspended two-Aftab Nagar and Meradia Bazar-leaving nine to proceed with the first phase of bidding on April 29.

Yet two sites-the vacant plot near Dania College and the area beside Sontek Women's Madrasa-failed to attract any bids. Following evaluations, five markets were shortlisted for leasing.

But three of these received bids below the government-set rate, and one failed to draw any scheduled bids, forcing the DSCC to call for a second-phase tender process.

Although bids were submitted on May 12, the evaluation meeting set for May 14 could not take place due to the ongoing protests.

The third-phase tender, planned for May 21, also failed to proceed due to the shutdown at Nagar Bhaban.

DSCC's Estate Department confirmed that two of the pending markets-those near Dania College and Sontek Women's Madrasa, as well as the plots beside Sadek Hossain Khoka Math and Dholaikhal Truck Terminal-received bids above the base rate and are eligible for lease upon evaluation.

However, two other markets-adjacent to Brothers Union Club and the Shyampur Kadamtoli Truck Stand-received lower bids and will require a third tender round. But with Nagar Bhaban still locked down, no progress can be made.

DSCC Chief Estate Officer Kaiser Mohammad Farabi said that while the higher-bid markets might proceed, the other two would need re-tendering.

Adding to the complications, the lease for the permanent cattle market at Gabtoli is still undergoing a re-tendering process.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) vice chairman SM Nazer Hossain said that as the Eid-ul-Adha was approaching, the lack of clarity surrounding these markets might create a mess for both traders and buyers across the capital.

According to the Department of Livestock Services, the country's cattle rearers and farmers are ready to sell around 5.6 million cows and buffaloes, 6.8 million goats and sheep, and 5,512 animals of other species - totalling 12.45 million this Eid.

Dhaka city is expected to witness trading in 1.0 million cows and 1.5 million goats and sheep.