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The majority of customers, visiting sacrificial animal markets set up across Dhaka, are preferring cattle in the medium weight/price bracket, said a number of traders and haat representatives on Thursday.
Cows weighing between four to five mounds and priced at around Tk 90,000 to Tk 1,50,000 have the highest demand. The demand for medium-sized goats is high among the customers as well.
The city’s sacrificial animal markets are bustling with traders and customers alike, but The Business Post witnessed a blatant disregard for Covid health safety guidelines – such as wearing masks – in those marketplaces, despite the surging infection rate in the country.
Anwar Parvez, one of the representatives of Kamalapur-Gopibagh-Mugda cattle market, said, “The demand for medium weight/price cattle is high. Our cattle market has a lot of animals for sale, and more will come tomorrow [Friday].
“Today [Thursday] is the last working day before Eid-ul-Azha holidays. I am optimistic that the cattle sales will gain further momentum tonight, and continue till the morning of Eid day.”
When asked about the widespread violation of mask mandate and health safety guidelines among traders in the market, Parvez declined to comment on the issue. About the mud in the marketplace, he said rain has caused the issue.
Shahidullah Bhuiyan, a resident of Dhaka, bought a medium sized cow for Tk 1,36,400 including Hasil (cattle market tax) from the Kamalapur market on Thursday. Sharing his experience, Bhuiyan said, “This marketplace is full of cattle, traders and customers. The traders however are not dropping the prices, which are causing a lot of people to turn back empty handed.
“I bought a cow, but I had to go over budget. I am happy with my purchase.”
Commenting on the Covid safety violations, the lessee of the Shahjahanpur cattle market Abdul Latif said, “We are campaigning in the marketplace so that everyone follows the health guidelines and wears a mask. But traders are not following it.
“We will continue our efforts to maintain the health safety guidelines in this cattle market.”
Traders eager to make sales
Considering the demand for medium-sized cattle, Ziarul Islam came to the Kamalapur cattle market from Meherpur with six cows for sale. Among those, he decorated the big one with an artificial garland.
“I brought up this cow personally, and will demand around Tk 2.5 lakh for it. Many traders have shown interest, but it seems that my prices are a bit high for them.”
Kuddus Bapary came to Kamalapur from Kushtia with five small cows, and his asking price for each of those is between Tk 70,000 to Tk 90,000. There are 22 cattle markets, including in Gabtoli and Sarulia, in areas under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) this year. Among those marketplaces, 12 are under Dhaka South and 10 under Dhaka North.
RAB drive against fattening drug use
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Thursday conducted several drives in different cattle markets across the city to check whether any fattening drug has been used on the sacrificial animals currently on sale.
RAB magistrates, along with veterinarians, participated in those drives.
Director of the RAB’s Legal and Media Wing Khandaker Al Moin said, “We will take action according to the law if any evidence of fattening drugs is found in any animal during the drives.
“The force has already completed all security preparations for the upcoming Eid. Every RAB unit is fully prepared to deal with any security situation that could arise in the empty Dhaka, including in Eid processions.”
