Cattle markets in the capital are yet to draw customers even though only two days are left for Eid-ul-Azha, one of the main festivals of Muslim Ummah.
Until yesterday a very small number of cattle were sold at the city’s 14 cattle markets including the permanent one in Gabtali. But cattle traders are hoping that city people will rush there from today.
This year the price of cow is less than that of last year while it is the reverse for goat.
Shahed Kawsar, a resident of Bashabo who bought a cow from Shajahanpur cattle market, said, “I have bought the cow at Tk 35,500 which I think is around Tk 3,000 less than last year’s price.”
Mozibur Rahman who bought a cow at Tk 1.30 lakh from Kamalapur market said the cow cost him Tk 20,000 less compared to last year.
Ali Akbar, a cattle trader, said he brought 18 cows from Meherpur and sold 16 in three days fearing that he will have to incur loss if he sells them at the last moment.
“I benefited only Tk 2,000 from the sales,” said Akbar. He is, however, among the very few traders who could sell their animals.
Babul Hossain, a trader who brought 39 cows from Pabna three days back, said he could not sell any of his cows due to poor number of customers.
But he is hopeful that he will get customers from today as city dwellers start their purchase two days before the Eid.
Taizal Fakir, a trader in Gabtali cattle market who could not sell any of his 17 cows until yesterday, said, “Every day our cost adds up because of the maintenance of the animals and it is frustrating.”
For goats, the price at the cattle markets is much higher comparing with the last year’s. Goat traders think there will be a huge rush for goats due to the recent anthrax pandemic.
Ashraful Islam, a businessman, said the price of goat has doubled this year.
“I had bought two goats at Tk 11,500 in last Eid-ul-Azha. But this time the traders are asking for Tk 25,000.”
Rezaul Sarker, of Alamdanga, Kushtia, who brought 31 goats, was seen demanding Tk 90,000 for two goats which he reared in his house.
His two goats, the biggest in size at Kamalapur cattle market as of yesterday, weigh 60 kilogram each.
Meanwhile, a good number of cattle-carrying trucks reached the city yesterday, as those were not restricted for hartal.
A driver said, “We left Naogaon around 4:30pm yesterday [Saturday] and reached Kamalapur at 1:30pm today [yesterday]. We did not face any resistance from any picketers on the way.”
Around 1000 trucks carrying cattle were on way to the capital from different districts, he said.
