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No health rules followed at cattle markets in Rajshahi


Published : 13 Jul 2021 09:16 PM

In spite of the lockdown, the bargaining and sale of sacrificial animals have been geared up in the cattle markets of Rajshahi. 

The City Cattle Hat at the outskirts of the city is now teeming with hundreds of cattle traders and customers. 

However, no one at the hat seems to be aware about the deadly infection of the Corona virus. Almost all the people at the hat are seen to violate the health rules. 

Earlier, the City hat was held on every Sunday and Wednesday but ahead of the Eid-ul-Adha, the hat is now being held every day. Many customers, not only from Rajshahi, but the wholesale cattle traders from other parts of the country are also seen to arrive at the hat to purchase sacrificial animals. 

On Monday morning, a huge number of cattle heads were seen to arrive at the hat through the Nasiman (locally manufactured diesel engine driven vehicle). An unprecedented traffic jam was created on the road in front of the hat. 

Only a few people were seen to wear masks on their faces. Most of them were wearing the masks either on their chin or kept those inside their pockets. However, police were announcing through microphones to 'maintain health rules and wear masks' but only a few were seen to follow the instruction. 

Specially, during the rain (frequent rainfall occurs nowadays) all people of the hat are seen to throng inside the nearby tiny-sheds, standing side by side like a pack of match sticks inside a match box. Not only during the rainfall but also during the entire hat-hours, customers, cattle traders and other people are not seen to maintain a minimum distance. By watching the entire hat scenario, it seems that none of the people is worried of Coronavirus infection. By wearing a mask on his chin, Abu Taleb of Char Anupnagar village under Chapainawabganj came to purchase sacrificial animals. When asked why he came from such a faraway place, he answered that there were no available sacrificial animals like bulls or buffaloes in the villages, so he came to the cattle-hat.  

Taleb of the same village was not earing a mask. He said he has his mask in his pocket. 'We are rural farmers. We feel uneasy after wearing a mask. That is why I kept it inside my pocket,' he explained. Khairul Islam of Kanaidanga vilalge of Godagari was standing with a bull at the hat. He had his mask on his chin. He informed, he has so far reared seven cattle heads to sell those during the Eid-ul-Azha. That is why he came to the hat even after the panic of Corona. 

Abdur Rahman Bepari came to the hat to purchase sacrificial animals from Chittagong. He was also without any mask. While talking with this correspondent, he took out the mask from his pocket and put it on his face. He informed, the price of sacrificial animals is exorbitant this year. He said, their business is to deal with cattle heads, especially with sacrificial animals during the Eid-ul-Azha. Seven of them together have arrived in the hat even amid the Coronavirus pandemic. 

“The trade during the Eid-ul-Azha brings a satisfactory profit every year that is why we've arrived here even after the risk of Corona,” he added. 

Moniruzzaman Monir, Inspector of Shah Makhdum Police station was on duty with some policemen at the entrance of the hat. He informed, police were warning the people to maintain social distance and wear masks. But only a few were seen to follow. 

Atiqur Rahman Kalu, one of the leasees of the hat and President of Boalia Thana (east) AL informed, the situation of the hat was satisfactory. There was no problem anywhere.  There are sanitizers and masks. Anyone can use those free of cost. However, he said, it is not possible to control health rules properly at the cattle-hat.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Shariful Haque said, the issue of non-maintenance of health rules at the cattle hats has been discussed at the monthly law and order meeting and the decision of the meeting will be informed later on.