Sacrificial animals are being sold at 90 cattle markets in Cox’s Bazar district ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha.
Considering the safety of the buyers and sellers in the market, the police have taken three-tier security measures alongside various mitigation programmes.
The initiatives include animal test medical teams from the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) for the examination of sacrificial animals in the market. There are special counterfeit note detection machines in the market to detect fake notes. A special team of police will be engaged in stopping the robberies and the overall security of the buyers and sellers.
Cox’s Bazar’s Additional Deputy Commissioner Bibhishan Kanti Das said various issues of the sacrificial animal market were widely discussed in the preparatory meeting.
“Security measures have been taken in each market to prevent trade disruptions. Necessary instructions are given to the police in order to ensure that the public can enjoy shopping without any problems,” he said.
He added that mobile teams of police will be on duty in plainclothes and special police personnel will be deployed separately. The district animal resource officer is directed to check animal health and correctness.
This year there are 90 animal markets in Cox’s Bazar district, including 17 in Sadar, 15 in Ramu, 20 in Chakaria, 8 in Pekua, 8 in Ukhiya, 13 in Teknaf, 9 in Moheshkhali, 6 in Kutubdia. However, the number of privately organised markets is expected to be more than hundreds.
Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila Nibarhi Officer Mohammad Zakaria said there are 17 sacrificial animal markets in the upazila. Five among them are permanent and one new permit has been granted in the municipality.
The largest market in the district is Kharulia market. The government has collected expected revenue from the Sadar market.
Kharulia Bazar, the traditional large cattle market of Sadar, has been leased this year for Tk 2.67 crore. Besides, Eidgah Bazar sitting in Sadar has been leased for Tk 2.17 crore. Other markets include Kalirchara Bazar, Pokkhali Muslim Bazar, and Jumchari Bazar.
There will be a strong police cordon for overall security for buyers and sellers in all markets of Sadar. Sonali Bank will have a separate team to detect fake notes.
Sacrificial animal markets were set up last Wednesday in addition to the regular markets. Already there are 1,000 cows stocked in Kharulia Bazar to be taken to the buffalo market.
Last year, the queue of cows was almost half a kilometre across the road. If there are a lot of cattle in the market this year, it is believed that the price of medium-quality cattle will be higher.
Meanwhile, a market has been set up in Shamlapur of Teknaf upazila. Buyers flocked to buy large-size cows. In addition to strengthening the security of the customers in all the haats of the district, they have also been redecorated.
The lessees of some markets have said that arrangements have been made for a round-the-clock power supply so that the business can be done uninterruptedly from morning to night.
