Cattle traders concerned over highway robberies

Jubair Hasan back from Kushtia Cattle traders in the country's northern region expressed their concern over the sudden rise of highway robberies, saying such lawlessness might discourage them to carry sacrificial animals to the city's cattle markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The concern arose as a number of goods-laden trucks and pickup vans were hijacked in recent time. According to Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB), some 150 trucks and pickup vans loaded with exportable products were hijacked in just two months that added fuel to their worries. The traders said many groups have already decided to sell sacrificial animals in their localities to avoid robberies as highway criminals become active on the eve of the festival. "We're yet to decide whether we'll go to Dhaka this time considering our last year's experiences," said Mohammad Ariful, one of the leading cattle traders of Kushtia district. The highway extortionists looted money from a number of traders last year from various points, including Shiyaldanga in Rajbari district and Aminbazar of Savar, while they were returning home after selling their animals, the trader said. "That costs us too much," said Mr Ariful who hails from Paharpur in Kumarkhali upazial of the district. Alam Hossain, another cattle trader of the same area, said he incurred a huge loss last occasion despite selling some 20 big and medium-sized cows in the capital as muggers snatched away a major portion of the amount from Savar area while he was returning home. "We want enough security steps this time as it can restore the confidence of traders," he said, adding that the number of highway crimes is gradually increasing. Alimuzzaman Shafi, a cattle trader of Pabna district, said he could not buy enough sacrificial animals for this Eid as he suffered massive loss during last Eid due to highway mugging. "Panic prevails among the traders in the region. We'll not go to Dhaka with sacrificial animals this time unless sufficient security is ensured," he added. Taking the concerns into the account, the country's law-enforcement agencies have taken foolproof security arrangements to ensure smooth law and order situation in the highways, river routes and around the cattle markets. Highway police chief deputy inspector general (DIG) Humayon Kabir said nobody except the designated officials can stop animal-laden trucks and boats on their way to destinations. "Necessary instructions were given to officials concerned regarding the matter," he said. He said his force with the help of district police administrations will ensure required security for traders on the highways. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will also set up closed- circuit television (CCTV) cameras at the cattle markets in the city to ensure security and check extortion and mugging. "Fake currency identification machine (FCIM) will also be installed in every cattle market to detect fake notes in the markets," DMP additional commissioner (Crime) Abdul Jalil Mondal said. "The interested traders will be provided police escort for carrying large amount of money," he said, adding that a number of DMP teams in plainclothes will be in the markets to arrest muggers and dope party men. A total of 20 cattle markets, 13 under the supervision of the Dhaka City Corporation and seven others under Dhaka district administration, will be set up in the city. A large number of law enforcers including police and RAB will be deployed at different strategic points across the city to ensure security of the city dwellers during the festival. Law enforcers have been asked to take massive security measures to curb toll collection from transports carrying sacrificial animals, he added.