Dhaka city to have 13 cattle markets

Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) will set up 13 makeshift cattle markets in the city ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
DCC floated a tender for this yesterday, and fixed November 1 for both the submission and selection of the bidders.
The venues are: Jhigatola-Hazaribag ground, Taltala (Khilgaon) bus stand, Agargaon (adjacent to the LGED Bhaban), Dhupkhola playground, Rahmatganj playground, Banarupa Housing project at Khilkhet, Uttar Shahjahanpur, Azampur (Uttara) Government Primary School playground, Purbachal, Balurmath (adjacent to the Brothers Union Sporting Club in Kamalapur), Meradia Bazar playground, Armanitola (adjacent to Chitra cinema hall) and Banani-Kakali level crossing.
DCC officials said this year's Hasil, the service tax to be paid by cattle buyers, has been fixed at 5 percent of the cattle price, which means, customers will have to pay Tk 50 for every Tk 1,000.
The markets will sit for four days including the Eid day, expected to be observed on November 16 or 17 depending on moon sighting.
Besides these makeshift ones, a permanent market will also be set up at Gabtoli.
Meanwhile, the government is going to form vigilance teams to prevent sales of anthrax-infected animals in cattle markets across the country.
The teams, comprised of livestock department officials and veterinary doctors, will take out sick animals from the market to ensure safe meat for the consumers, said Dr Md Abdul Baki, director (health and administration) of livestock department.
The affected animals will be treated at separate locations, he told The Daily Star on Tuesday, adding, the teams will be deployed in the rural areas soon.
The government decision comes against the backdrop of the recent anthrax outbreak that killed at least 37 animals out of 47 cows and 56 goats infected so far.
Dr Baki, however, said the anthrax attack is now under control and there is no report of any animal being affected since September 18.
The government on September 5 declared a “red alert” following reports of human infection through consumption of meat of infected animals, mostly cows, but withdrew it on October 7 saying that the situation had improved.
According to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), a total of 607 people were infected by the virus since its outbreak in August with no death reported.
On checking sales of sick animals, Md Nurul Islam, acting chief health officer of DCC, said the city corporation itself will not take any steps, but they are ready to help the livestock department if necessary.