Patuakhali cattle market lessees force buyers to pay extra toll
Lessees of different cattle markets in Patuakhali district are allegedly forcing the buyers of sacrificial animals to pay extra toll, violating the government-fixed rates.
In Lalmonirhat, local cattle are selling for good prices as arrival of Indian cattle has virtually stopped due to anti-smuggling drive by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Our Patuakhali Correspondent reports: Buyers have to pay Tk 200 to 500 for each goat and sheep and Tk 500 to 2,000 for each cow and buffalo in cattle markets of the district while according to the rate fixed by the district administration, a lessee cannot realise more than Tk 200 from each cow and buffalo and Tk 75 each for goat or sheep.
“On Tuesday I bought two goats from Hetalia Badghat Haat in Patuakhali town at a cost of Tk 13,000. The leaser's men demanded Tk 1,000 as toll and I paid Tk 500 after a bargain,” said Kamal Hossain of Dibuapur village under Patuakhali Sadar upazila.
“I don't know about toll rate fixed by the district administration as there is no notice here,” he added.
Imrul Kayes of Patuakhali town, another buyer of the same haat, said he bought a cow for Tk 45,000 and bidder's men took Tk 500 from him.
This correspondent failed to contact Golam Sarwer Badol, lessee of the cattle market, as he did not receive cell phone calls.
A similar scene was found at Kalaiya Haat, the biggest cattle market in the district.
On Monday, Saidul Islam, a buyer bought a cow for Tk 56,000 and he had to pay Tk 1,000.
According to the deputy commissioner's (DC) office sources, a lessee can realize Tk up to 200 for each cow and buffalo and Tk 75 for each goat or sheep.
The rate was fixed in a meeting held on September 14 in 2006 with Md Rafiqul Islam, the then DC of Patuakhali, in the chair.
As per rule, lessee have to hang the rate chart on a board at a visible place in each haat or bazaar but no leaser follows the instruction.
Over 100 haats have been set up in different areas of eight upazilas in the district centring the Eid-ul-Azha.
Dr Masumur Rahman, DC of Patuakhali, said, “I have asked the UNOs to conduct mobile courts to ensure government fixed rates at cattle markets.”
Our Lalmonirhat Correspondent adds: Local cattle are selling for high prices at 15 cattle markets in the district as smuggling of Indian cattle has stopped due to vigilance by BGB.
Nur Islam, lessee of the cattle market, said, “No Indian cattle arrived here for the last one year whereas only two years ago some 2000 to 2500 Indian cattle were sold on every weekly market day,” he said.
Lt Col Golam Morshed, commanding officer of Lalmonirhat 15 BGB Battalion, said, “Cattle smuggling is the main cause of border killing incidents and other crimes and so, we have resisted it strictly.”
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