Crack down on the syndicate

As this daily has reported last Wednesday, six cattle markets out of 13, for cattle sales before Eid-ul-Azha, in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have failed to get a single offer in the last three biddings as a syndicate is forcing general bidders to keep out from bidding. The syndicate, led by ruling party leaders and activists, has been controlling the tender process of all the makeshift cattle markets of both the city corporations. Also, nearly all of the highest bidders for the other seven cattle markets are ruling party men. The situation is worrying because if the syndicate is allowed to continue such illegal activity, the city corporations will be deprived of a fixed yearly income.

Although there is a provision of "khas collection" under which the city corporations can operate the markets for which they do not get any offer, it seems this process is also not in their control. According to the DSCC sources, last year some ruling party men had controlled the markets that didn't get any bids. So it is clear that the city corporations have, in fact, no control over the cattle markets which are a major source of their yearly income.

We urge the government to crack down on the syndicate and do what is needed to ensure a fair bidding process. Only through a fair and competitive bidding process, can the city corporations have a fair earning. The home minister has informed us recently of the many steps the government is going to take to reduce the sufferings of the buyers and ensure the security of the cattle markets. We hope that he would also put all-out efforts to break this unscrupulous syndicate.