With only five days left for Eid-ul-Azha, business has started gaining momentum in the cattle markets in Rajshahi and nearby areas.
A large number of sacrificial animals were brought to the different markets on Friday but the crowd is expected to be bigger on Saturday and Sunday.More than 1,000 members of law enforcement agencies, including the police and Rapid Action Battalion, have been deployed in and around cattle markets to ensure security.
Plainclothes police and RAB personnel have also been deployed to detect and check fake currency.
This year, the demand for domestic animals for sacrificial purposes has been seemingly increased as the wholesalers are sending large animal consignments to Dhaka and Chittagong from Rajshahi.
Moreover a large number of smuggled cattle are entering the country through the bordering areas of Rajshahi bypassing the corridors.
Local cattle farmers are facing huge challenges and heavy loss because of the smuggling of animals from India.
Sekander Ali Shetu, a cattle fattener of Bazar Para area of Gomastapur Upazila under Chapainawabganj, said he had reared two bulls for the last three years and he claimed that it costed him Tk 10 lakh because of the exorbitant prices of fodder and other feeds and he expected to sell them at least for Tk 15 to 17 lakh.
Humayun, another cattle farmerr of Naohata area under Paba Upazila of the district, also said because of high prices of fodder, many farm owners sold their cattle and opted for other trades as it was not possible for the farmers to gain profit in this business.
Moreover the farmers had to face a competitive market because of the cheap smuggled cattle, he added.
Traders said there were plenty of supplies of cattle in the markets of Rajshahi and their prices were same as the last Eid-ul-Azha.
The traders are expecting that local people will start purchasing their animals one or two day before the Eid.
After visiting several markets including City Hat, Banewar Hat, Kanthakhali Hat and Mohisalbari Hat traders were found waiting for the customers.
Most of the customers were found just enquiring about the prices of the animals.
The price of an ideal sized cow or buffalo starts from Tk 28,000 to 30,000 and a sheep or goat can be purchased at Tk 7,000.
-With New Age input
