"Traders have already begun bringing cattle into the city and to ensure a sufficient number of cattle we are permitting them to enter the market," said a plot owner from Old Dhaka market.

Large numbers of cattle are presently on sale at many markets. Gabtoli, the biggest market in the city is already experiencing a few buyers while visitors are more in number.

DCC has leased out 15 spots in the city for temporary markets for Tk 1 crore, 61 lakhs and 56,000, which is Tk 56 lakh higher than that of last year. Besides this lessees have to pay a fixed amount to clean up the plots used.

The DCC has also fixed the Hasil (commission) at five percent against the sale of each animal.

The legal cattle markets will be situated at Gabtoli, Armanitola, Shantinagar Sunrise Sporting Club, Rajuk field in Uttara sector 12, Fields adjoining Agargaon Taltala, Meradia Bazar, Postogola, Alam super market, Khilkhet Tanpara, Jigatala-Hajaribagh field, Golapbagh field, Rahmatgonj field, Dupkhula, Brothers Union field, Tejgaon, Hossinidalan.

It is feared that like previous years unauthorised cattle markets might sprout in many parts of the city. In some areas influential people have already started preparing to do so, alleged the authorised lessees.

"Eighteen mobile courts will be working in the city round the clock to take action against any illegal and unauthorized cattle markets, with two assigned only to the Gabtoli area," said Abu Taleb, chief estate office, DCC.

The official also said that a good number of Rab and police officers would also be deployed to ensure security at all cattle markets in the city.

]Many businessmen predicted that this year the price of cattle might be little higher than that of last year. However, they also said that nothing can be predicted about the prices till the eve of Eid-ul-Azha. "Everything depends on the ratio of supply and demand," said Kofil Uddin a lessee of Gabtoli cattle market.