City Reporter: Under the management of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), the number of temporary stalls for sacrificial animals is not increasing in the city. Like last time, seven temporary animal markets will be set up this time. The organization has finalized the lease for the huts. CCC is getting 2 crore, 62 lakh, 38 thousand, and 370 taka more revenue from these huts than last time. 1 crore, 76 lakh, 77 thousand, and 137 taka more than the official price. According to sources in the revenue branch of CCC, tenders were called on May 20 for the appointment of tenants in the temporary huts. May 30 was the last day for the submission of tenders. This time, against seven markets, 171 tenders were sold, but 26 tenders were submitted. After the scrutiny, the highest bidder was finalized for appointment as the lessee yesterday. In this case, CCC’s income from seven markets will be 5 crore, 6 lakh, 34 thousand, and 370 taka. Last time (2023), the income from the same markets was 2 crore, 62 lakh, 38 thousand, and 370 taka. Earlier in 2022, the income from only three markets was 4 crore, 93 lakh, and 70 thousand taka. It is learned that a government price is fixed for the huts during the call for tenders. The price is set at a 6 percent increase over the average price of the last three years. Accordingly, the official price this time was 3 crore, 29 lakh, 57 thousand, and 233 taka. That is, CCC is getting more income than the government pays by leasing the market.
CCC’s state officer, Rezaul Karim, is appointing the highest bidder as the lessee. How much revenue is generated by any bazaar? This time the revenue of CCC from Karnaphuli animal market (from Noor Nagar Housing Estate or Bahaddarhat, one kilometer to the north side of Shah Amanat Bridge) will be Tk 2 crore, 20 thousand, which was Tk 1 crore, 95 lakh last time. Before this, CCC received a revenue of 3 crore 77 lakh taka in 2022, 2 crore 20 thousand taka in 2021, and 2 crore 377 taka in 2020. Although the income from leasing the temporary animal market has increased over the last time, the revenue has fallen below the government rate. This time the official price was 2 crore, 72 lakh, 84 thousand, and 533 taka. In this regard, CCC’s state officer, Rezaul Karim, said the owner of the land, Noor Nagar Housing Estate Authority, has constructed houses in some plots at the Karnaphuli temporary animal market site. On the other hand, due to the ongoing work of the corporation’s canal digging project from Baripara to the Karnaphuli River, the space for setting up the market has become narrow. As market rents have steadily increased, lessees have not received bids higher than the desired government rates. There was no time for re-tendering, and it was unanimously recommended to award the lease by accepting the highest bid over the previous price due to the fear of losing revenue to CCC.
Meanwhile, among the remaining six animal huts, 50 lakh rupees will be earned against the empty field of TK Group in the south of Butterfly Park in Ward No. 41. Last time, the income was 15 lakhs. The market was not leased in 2022. Earlier in 2021, CCC generated revenue of Tk 26 lakh by leasing this market.
14 lakh, 60 thousand, and 500 rupees will be earned against the hut sitting in the TSP field next to Silo Road in East Patenga Ward No. 40, North Hossain Ahmed. Last time, the income was 11 lakh 51 thousand taka. Opposite to the hut sitting in the empty field of CIP Jasim on Muslimabad Road in the same ward, this time the income will be 2 lakhs. Last time, the income in this market was 1 lakh, 70 thousand taka.
This time, 16 lakh, 2 thousand, and 370 taka will be earned by leasing the hut located in the abandoned field of Godown adjacent to Barapole in Ward No. 26. Last time, the income was Rs. 4 lakh. 2 lakh 51 thousand rupees will be earned by leasing the hut at the Wazediya intersection of Panchlaish Ward No. 3. Last time, the income was 1 lakh, 75 thousand taka. 2 crore 21 lakh rupees will be earned by leasing the hut located in CDA Balur field on Outer Ring Road of South Halishahar Ward No. 39. CCC got a revenue of 15 lakh rupees last time.
According to the information from the revenue wing of CCC, this time an initiative was taken to set up nine temporary animal huts. The organization applied to the district administration on April 9, seeking permission to set up these proposed temporary huts. After receiving the application from CCC, the district administration wrote to the Chittagong Metropolitan Police and the district police on May 5, seeking their opinion on the haats. However, the police objected to two of the proposed nine temporary animal stalls. Of these, the city police objected to one hut and the district police to one. Later on May 15, the district administration allowed CCC to set up seven markets under 14 conditions.
However, apart from the temporary huts, there are three permanent animal huts in the city under the management of CCC. These are Sagarika Livestock Market, Bibirhat Cow Market, and Posterpar Goat Market. A permanent market for sacrificial animals is held in the city under the management of CCC from 1 to 10 Zilhaj every year, depending on the sighting of the moon. This time, also subject to the sighting of the moon, the market is scheduled to be held on June 8.
