A writ petition has been filed challenging the legality of the government-issued lease notice for setting up a sacrificial cattle market in Aftabnagar, Dhaka. The petition was submitted on Thursday (April 24) by Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali Akand in the relevant branch of the High Court.

The petition names the Secretary of the Local Government Ministry, Dhaka South City Corporation, and its Chief Land Officer, among others, as respondents. It seeks a stay on the lease notice issued on April 21 for establishing temporary cattle markets during Eid-ul-Azha, specifically objecting to the one proposed in Aftabnagar.

The lease notice from the Chief Property Officer of Dhaka South City mentioned 11 locations for cattle markets across the capital. Yunus Ali Akand requested the exclusion of Aftabnagar from the list, citing it as a planned residential area under Eastern Housing, approved by RAJUK, similar to Dhanmondi and Gulshan. He argued that the area houses thousands, including judges and professionals, with about 7,000 allocated plots, and that setting up a cattle market there would severely inconvenience the residents.

He further pointed out that under the Local Government (City Corporation) Act of 2009, Aftabnagar falls under Ward 37 of Badda Police Station, which is part of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). In 2023, when DNCC attempted to set up a market in the area, a High Court stay was issued following a writ. Though the Appellate Division later allowed the lease beyond the L Block, no market was held between Blocks A and H due to the court’s earlier order.

A hearing on the new writ is expected in the High Court next week.