Finding the pandemic-specific health guidelines being defied in most of the haats, or makeshift cattle markets, that were in operation in Panchagarh, the district authority on Saturday ordered all of them, including one at Rajnagar, shut till further notice.
The decision was taken at an urgent meeting held by the Sadar Upazila authority today. Earlier, they decided to keep the cattle markets open on a limited extent following the health rules amid the stringent lockdown.
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However, it was observed at many of the haats, including Rajnagar and Nagakumari, that making people follow the rules was proving impossible even for the police. Complaints from concerned citizens and locals regarding the dangerous situation in the haats also started gathering steam on Saturday.
Deputy Commissioner of Panchagarh, Jahurul Islam said all the UNO’s have been directed to implement the newly imposed restriction on setting up cattle markets.
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“The decision of allowing cattle markets could’ve underminedgovernment’s effort of imposing stringent lockdown completely, said general secretary of district’s Sommilito Shamajik Andolon party, Ajharul Islam.
AKM Anwarul Islam Khayer, member of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) said, “Indian cows were being brought by cattle smugglers to the market which could spike up Covid cases in the region.”