A section of ruling BNP activists and some ward commissioners' men allegedly occupied the city corporation office in Nagar Bhaban on December 14 and 15, the dates for sale and submission of tender forms, so that the contracts go mainly to the ruling alliance men.

In absence of City Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, who was abroad for treatment at that time, they virtually took control of the tender box.

After opening the box on December15, re-tender was called for the markets at Armanitola [Nayabazar], Uttara Sector-12, Agargaon [at Agargaon slum] and the Sunrise playground at Shahjahanpur as the DCC authorities found the offers for those unsatisfactory, corporation officials said.

Things turned out to be shadowy particularly in case of the makeshift market at Armanitola. Despite a bidder offering highest Tk 75 lakh, fresh tenders were invited. Sources said the decision was taken bowing to pressure from a ward commissioner backed by a city BNP leader.

In the re-tender on December 29, the ward commissioner's men eventually won the contract for the biggest of the 14 markets on a bid of Tk 79 lakh, beating the previous highest bidder, who was backed by a female ward commissioner of old town.

DCC had decided to set up 15 makeshift cattle markets across the city and invited tenders on December 2. The number came down to 14 after the plan for proposed market at Tejgaon Truck Stand was cancelled due to objection by truck leaders.

A total of 311 tenders were shown sold in two phases while only 69 including 15 in the re-tender were submitted.

DCC this year will earn about Tk 1.55 crore from the cattle markets, which is about Tk 50 lakh up from that of the last year, said a DCC official.

Of the 14 markets, eight will be held in the open space near Chitra Hall at Armanitola, at the grounds of Khilkhet Tanpara, Jhigatala-Hazaribagh, Golapbagh, Rahmatganj, Dhupkhola, Balurmath at Kamalapur and on the road from Chankharpul crossing to Bakshibazar traffic signal.

The others will be in the open at Uttara Sector 12, Meradia Bazar, Taltala Bus Stand, Agargaon, in front of Alam Market at Postagola and in the playgrounds of Shahjahanpur [Sunrise] and Rayer Bazar.

These will be in operation from three days before the Eid day and continue till noon of the Eid-ul-Azha, said M Abu Taleb, chief estate officer of DCC.