State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Tuesday said no space beneath or around the metro rail station in the capital's Diabari area had been leased out for cattle trading.

The state minister made the remarks while visiting the Diabari cattle market in Uttara in the afternoon.

“We have not leased out any space under or around this metro rail station for a cattle market,” he said.

According to him, some traders temporarily took shelter under the metro rail station with their cattle following heavy rainfall two days ago.

“Later, the administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation personally came and removed the cattle from the road to the designated market area,” he added.

The minister said magistrates were working on-site round the clock and alleged that a video recorded three days earlier had been circulated on social media in an attempt to create controversy surrounding the government.

“You can visit the spot and see for yourselves that cattle trading is taking place only inside the designated market,” he said.

He acknowledged that some parts of the road became dirty after cattle moved onto the streets but said cleaning operations had begun since morning.

“City corporation staff and law enforcement personnel are working here continuously. No cattle trading will be allowed around the metro rail area. We have already removed the cattle and such activities will not be allowed in future,” he said.

The state minister also said the government had repeatedly instructed that cattle markets must remain within designated boundaries.

“Whenever such issues have come to our notice, we have taken immediate action. Public cooperation is also needed,” he added.

During the visit, Md Shafiqul Islam Khan, administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation, said some traders had gathered under the metro rail station during rainfall but were removed immediately.

“Later, after learning that cattle traders had returned to the spot, I visited the area again at around 1:30am and took action.

Cleaning activities have been ongoing since this morning,” he said.