Animal market is located near the railway track in Shamshernagar Bazar, an important township of Kamalganj upazila of Sylhet-Akhaura rail section. Although the market is leased for millions of rupees per year, there is no specific place for the animal market.
Every Sunday and Wednesday, there is no one to see the cattle market illegally near the railway line. Despite the objections of the railway authorities, the cattle market is being held regularly. As a result, there is a danger of major accidents at any moment.
It can be seen on the surface, ignoring the objections, the market lessee is running the animal market next to the red godam on the south side of the Shamshernagar railway station of Kamalganj upazila. Pasurhats are held illegally on Sundays and Wednesdays of the week by fencing along the railway lines. As there is no boundary and boundary wall in the station area, animals are running here and there for buying and selling in the market. Due to the establishment of animal stalls, the stones of the railway line are also falling. It is also becoming dangerous for train movement.
Locals said that the market lessee is running the animal market as per his wish without taking anything into consideration. Pedestrians and locals also pass through this place next to the railway line. Due to sitting on animal carts, traveling is also suffering.
Srimangal’s Senior Deputy Assistant Engineer (Roads) sent a letter to Dhaka Divisional Engineer-2 of Bangladesh Railway on May 23 last year to take necessary measures to prevent animal huts from being installed in the interest of railway safety.
This year, Koesh Mia took the market lease with Shamshernagar Pasurhat for one year at the price of 83 lakh 20 thousand rupees. However, since there is no specific place for the animal market, everyone including the buyers and sellers are suffering.
Sellers Rafiq Miah, Manik Miah said that bringing cows and goats along the railway line is really risky. Since the market is being leased and the government is also getting huge amount of revenue, it is necessary to find specific and safe place for animal market. There is no place like animal market here. On one side is the railway line and on the other is the garbage dump.
Shamshernagar Railway Station Master Jamal Hossain said, despite repeated objections to the lessee, the pasurhat was forcibly installed next to the railway line. The risk is increasing. The matter has also been brought to the notice of higher authority. Objections have also been given by letter.
Regarding the complaint, Shamshernagar market lessee Koich Miah said that the Pasurhat sits here, and the upazila district administration officer also knows about it. Since there is no fixed place for the animal market, the market has been sitting here for a long time. There is no problem with that.
In this regard, Kamalganj upazila executive officer Zainal Abedin said, I do not know the matter completely. However, the matter of setting up animal stalls next to the railway line will be looked into.
