RANGPUR, Aug 20: As the cattle markets of Rangpur district are dominated by middlemen and 'dalals' (brokers), the sellers and buyers of sacrificial animals at different cattle markets under the district are facing serious harassment.
Both the buyers and sellers of sacrificial animals at most of the cattle markets or haats in Rangpur city and upazila areas are being deceived by middlemen and brokers on the eve of the holy Eid-ul-Azha.
A large number of buyers and sellers of sacrificial animals who arrive at the cattle markets or local haats are allegedly duped by the brokers or middlemen who move there in the guise of real buyers or sellers of cattle.
Saiful Mia, a cattle seller at Lalbag Cattle Market, said he came from Tilokpara village under Mithapukur upazila to sell his cattleheads at a good price.
But he had to face serious difficulties in selling his cow owing to the harassment by the brokers as he was compelled to sell his cows at much below price than his expectation. Moreover, he was forced to pay the brokers Tk 500 as commission, he added.
Masum (45) a broker at Lalbagh cattle market in the city said he earns Tk 2000 to Tk 3000 per market day.
"We just help people in purchasing and selling sacrificial animals and in this way earn some money. I think it is not an offence", he added.
Expressing disappointment some buyers at Lalbag Cattle Market said, "It is so tough to buy a sacrificial animal without managing local brokers. They have to pay Tk 400 to Tk 600 the brokers for buying cow", they added.
Talking to this correspondent a number of buyers and sellers at different cattle markets of the region said they are often deceived and harassed by the brokers and consequently they have to incur financial losses.
They also urged the authority concerned to take adequate measures in this regard so that they can get rid of such menace.
Our correspondent from Sylhet adds: The Bangladesh Bank on Monday morning set fake currency note detection booths at the cattle markets in Sylhet city and around.
General Manager of Bangladesh Bank, Sylhet, Jibon Krishna Roy inaugurated a booth at the Sylhet division's largest cattle market at Kazirbazar.
Janata Bank, Sylhet zone's General Manager Md Riazul Islam was also present on the occasion.
State-run Janata Bank Limited are to run the booths, by officials from 22 different banks on rotation at the region's largest cattle market at the Sylhet city's Kazirbazzar while the Sonali Bank Limited would conduct the other booths by the another set of officials from 22 other banks at the temporary cattle market at the city suburban Hazrat Shahporan (RA) market area, the official added.
Both the buyers and sellers would be able to get their bank notes checked through fake note detection device at the booths.
The decision was taken at a meeting of regional heads of different commercial banks on August 17 with Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Md Shah Alam chaired.
A joint director (Currency Department) of Bangladesh Bank had been entrusted with the task of coordinating the job while a full time control room would be working at the Bangladesh Bank, Sylhet.
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