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Sale of Sacrificial Animals Begins in Dhaka Ahead of Eid
With only five days remaining until Eid-ul-Azha, the sale of sacrificial animals has commenced in Dhaka’s 20 cattle markets, including two permanent ones, officials confirmed.
Sources from the two city corporations reported that eight temporary cattle markets have been established in the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) area, alongside the permanent Gabtali market. In the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) area, 10 temporary markets have been set up in addition to the permanent Sarulia cattle market.
Notably, due to a court directive, there will be no cattle market at Aftabnagar this year.
Peal Hasan, Information Officer for DNCC’s Public Relations Department, informed BSS that a total of nine cattle markets, including one permanent site, are operational within their jurisdiction. These markets will remain open for five days, concluding on the morning of Eid day, June 13. Hasan assured that comprehensive arrangements are in place to ensure the safe and comfortable trading of sacrificial animals.
For enhanced convenience, buyers can complete transactions via online banking without the need to carry cash. Instant bank accounts can be opened under the supervision of Bangladesh Bank, facilitating money transactions. Numerous bank booths have also been set up in the market areas for smooth financial transactions.
In addition, provisions for ablution and prayers have been arranged for both buyers and sellers. To maintain order, leaseholders have been warned that any sellers setting up on the streets will result in the forfeiture of the leaseholder’s security deposit.
Law enforcement agencies will maintain a constant presence in the markets to ensure the security of buyers and sellers.
The DNCC’s temporary markets are located at the open space adjacent to Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, Mostul Check Post in Khilkhet (Ward 43), Sutivola Canal at Vatara, sectors 16 and 18 in Uttara, Boubazar area, Mirpur Section-06 (Eastern Housing open space), Mohammadpur Bosila 40 feet road side, Vatulia Saheb Ali Madrasha to Ranavola Sluice gate, and Jamun area in Dakkhin Khan.
DSCC Public Relations Officer Abu Naser announced that 10 temporary markets, alongside the permanent Sarulia market, have been set up. Each market has a monitoring committee, including a magistrate, to maintain discipline. Any irregularities will prompt immediate action from the committee.
Both central and individual market control rooms have been established for oversight. Similar to the DNCC, DSCC markets offer cashless transactions under Bangladesh Bank’s supervision, with adequate bank booths available.
The DSCC’s temporary markets are situated in locations such as Dania College in Jatrabari, Dholaikhal Truck Terminal, Amulia Model Town, Meradia Bazar, Kamalapur Stadium vicinity, Rahmatganj Club area, Khilgaon Rail Maittre Sangha Club gate Bazar, Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology area in Hazaribag, Postogola open field near the crematory place, and the area beside Little Friends Club near Bishwa Road.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced today (June 22) that Bangladesh and India have agreed on a shared vision for a digital and green partnership aimed at ensuring a sustainable future for both nations.
In a joint statement before the media following her meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Hasina said, “Both countries endorsed the ‘Vision Statement’ to guide us toward a peaceful and prosperous future. We agreed to have a shared vision for ‘Digital Partnership’ and ‘Green Partnership for a Sustainable Future.'”
The bilateral discussions covered a broad range of topics, including water sharing from common rivers, security, and trade. Hasina emphasized the importance of India as Bangladesh’s major neighbor, trusted friend, and regional partner, highlighting the deep historical ties since Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971.
“Our relations with India are ever-growing at a fast pace,” Hasina noted. “Today, our two sides had very productive meetings where we discussed politics and security, trade and connectivity, the sharing of water from common rivers, power and energy, and regional and multilateral cooperation, among other issues of mutual interest.”
The Prime Minister added, “We agreed to collaborate with each other for the betterment of our people and countries.” She outlined a future course of action aimed at ensuring a smart Bangladesh by 2041 and a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.
Hasina mentioned that several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were concluded and renewed, with announcements made for future collaboration. She noted that recent years have seen sustained high-level engagements between the two countries, including visits by the Indian president and prime minister to Bangladesh in 2021 to celebrate significant milestones in Bangladesh’s history.
Reflecting on her own diplomatic engagements, Hasina recalled her last bilateral visit to India in September 2022 and her attendance at the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023 as the leader of ‘Guest Country’ Bangladesh. “I am now visiting New Delhi for an unprecedented second time in the same month, June 2024,” she remarked.
Earlier this month, on June 9, Hasina attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new cabinet alongside other world leaders, further underscoring the close engagement between the two nations.
During her current visit, Hasina will also meet with the Vice President and the President of India. She expressed optimism that these meetings will provide deeper insights into enhancing bilateral cooperation.
“This is my first bilateral visit to any country after Bangladesh’s 12th Parliamentary Elections and the formation of the new government in January 2024,” Hasina noted, thanking the Indian government for their warm hospitality.
In her concluding remarks, Hasina paid homage to the Indian heroes who sacrificed their lives during Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971, expressing gratitude for India’s contribution to Bangladesh’s independence. She also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Bangladesh at his earliest convenience.
During her two-day state visit to India, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was warmly received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a grand ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Upon her arrival at the Presidential Palace around 9:00 am (local time), Prime Minister Hasina was greeted by Modi. A red carpet was rolled out, and a horse-mounted regiment of the President’s Guards escorted her motorcade to the forecourt. The national anthems of Bangladesh and India played as part of the welcome ceremony.
Prime Minister Hasina was honored with a guard of honor by a contingent from the Indian Armed Forces. She inspected the guard and received the salute. Following the inspection, Prime Minister Modi introduced his cabinet members to Hasina, who then introduced her delegation to Modi.
Among the Bangladeshi dignitaries present were Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin, Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu, Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder, Power Division Secretary Md Habibur Rahman, Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited Chairman Dr. Shahjahan Mahmood, Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shameem, Railways Secretary Dr. Md. Humayun Kabir, ERD Secretary Md Shariar Kader Siddiky, Press Secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan, Speech Writer M Nazrul Islam, Awami League Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah, and other delegation members.
Later, Prime Minister Hasina visited Raj Ghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by placing a wreath at his Samadhi. Following this, she proceeded to Hyderabad House for a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Modi, which was followed by delegation-level talks.
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has been given a final deadline of June 23 to appear before the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for questioning regarding allegations of amassing illegal wealth, according to ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan. Failure to comply by this date will result in legal action, Khan stated to reporters at the Supreme Court on June 20.
Benazir Ahmed was initially scheduled to appear before the ACC on June 6. However, the deadline was extended to June 23 following a request from his lawyer, who sought an additional 15 days to respond to the summons.
Khurshid Alam emphasized that investigations into the former IGP and his family’s substantial assets, which exceed their known income, are advancing swiftly. Evidence of additional illegal assets has been uncovered, and the ACC intends to petition the court to confiscate these assets soon.
The ACC’s investigation has revealed significant assets in Benazir Ahmed’s name and those of his family members. Amid this probe, Benazir and his family left the country on May 4. Benazir served as IGP from April 2020 to September 2022 and was the Director General of RAB from January 2015 to April 2020. He also held the position of Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) for an extended period.
ACC prosecutors have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing. The court has ordered the seizure of assets discovered so far. Recently, the ACC identified eight more flats in Dhaka linked to Benazir Ahmed and his family: six in Adabor and two commercial spaces in a 14-story building in Badda named Rupayan Limited Square.
In total, 12 flats have been found under Benazir Ahmed’s family’s name, including four previously discovered in Gulshan. Senior Special Judge of Dhaka Metropolitan, Mohammad Assams Zagul Hossain, has ordered the seizure of the eight newly identified flats, approximately 76 bighas (25 acres) of land, and shares in private Citizen Television and Tiger Craft Apparels Limited.
Previously, the court had ordered the seizure of 621 bighas of land in Gopalganj, Madaripur, Cox’s Bazar, and Savar in Dhaka, shares in 19 companies, and four flats in Gulshan. Additionally, the court froze Tk 3 million in savings certificates, 33 bank accounts, and three BO accounts (beneficiary owner’s accounts for share trading). In total, 697 bighas of land have been found in the name of Benazir Ahmed’s family.
