Getting no response despite repeated calls for tender submission for
the lease of the city’s makeshift cattle market for the upcoming
Eid-ul-Azha, the KCC authorities have decided to run the market under
its own management this time like the past three years.
Although the Khulna City Corporation authorities have invited tender
three times so far for the makeshift cattle market, scheduled to open
at Jhoraghat Wholesale Kitchen Market in the city on October 9, nobody
has showed interest in securing its lease through buying or submitting
tender schedule.
In this situation, the KCC authorities like the past three years have
decided to run the cattle market under its own management.
The corporation sets up cattle market at Jhoraghat Kitchen Market
every year for the sale of sacrificial animals on the occasion of
Eid-ul-Azha.
Sources said KCC has been running itself the Jhoraghat cattle market
since 2010 and earning increased revenue compared to the previous
years.
Earlier the cattle market was run under private management on contract basis.
The highest revenue income of the corporation from the cattle market
was Tk47 lakh till 2009.
However, the earning hit Tk one crore in the last two years each.
Taking the last three year’s revenue income into account, the
authorities invited tender involving Tk94,10,616 on August 29 to lease
out the Jhoraghat cattle market.
After getting no response, the tender was re-invited on September 2
and September 15.
But, those who wanted to secure lease of the cattle market found the
tender to be ‘too high and risky’ and refrain themselves from the
bidding process, said the sources.
Selimur Rahman, an official of KCC, said they on September 2 decided
to run the cattle market under their management unless anyone showed
interest in this regard.
Panel mayor Ajmal Ahmed Tapan said as per the rule, the corporation
itself can conduct the market on getting no response after floating
tender thrice.
Asked why they invited tender much earlier, Ajmal Ahmed said they
invited tender before the new mayor takes office as he will not get
adequate time to float tender thrice by turns.
Some officials said operating with strict hands the cattle market, a
big source of earning for the corporation, will emerge as a challenge
for the new mayor. -UNB, Khulna
