With only two days left for Eid-ul-Azha, cattle markets in the Chittagong city have become vibrant with buyers although the prices of sacrificial animals were a bit high.
Huge crowds were observed at all the 12 cattle markets in the city, including Sagorika Bazar, Bibirhat, Karnaphuli Shah Amant Bridge, Soltgola Crossing, Steel Mills Bazar and Halishahar BDR Field, from the morning on Sunday and most of the buyers and sellers were found busy bargaining over the prices.
A resident at Mohammadpur in the city Mohammad Ayub Ali, who bought a middle-size cow from Bibirhat Bazar, said he had to count Tk 20 thousand for the cow while he bought a cow of the same size the previous year at Tk 18 thousand.
Imad Chowdhury, another buyer in the same market, said he bought a cow for Tk 40 thousand while the same-sized cow was available at Tk 35 thousand the previous year.
The prices of goats are high in the city markets as people are more interested to buy goat than cow because of anthrax panic this year.
Jobaer Ali, who bought a goat from Bibirhat Bazar for Tk 18 thousand, said it was very much difficult for the middle income group to sacrifice a goat this year as the prices were 30 to 40 per cent high compared to previous years.
M Shakhawat Osman, a trader and also the president of Sagorika Cattle Market Merchandisers Association, said, ‘The demand for the cows is relatively low this year because of the anthrax fear.’
