Chattogram is currently facing a shortage of 37,548 sacrificial animals during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the country’s Muslim community.
However, the gap is expected to be met before Eid as additional animals from different parts of the country including Bogura and Kushtia have entered Chattogram, officials said.
The demand for sacrificial animals in the port city and 15 upazilas of the district is 8,79,713, but the number of locally reared animals is 8,42,165. However, although the local production is less than the demand, there will not be a crisis of animals in the market before Eid, said district livestock official Dr Md Alamgir.
Meanwhile, half of the cows in the farms in Chattogram have already been sold. For the past few weeks, people have been flocking to various cattle farms to avoid the hassle of buying sacrificial animals from the market. However, the prices have increased compared to last year, said buyers and farmers.
Wasif Ahmed Salam, managing director of the Asian Agro, a cattle farm under Bayezid Bostami Police Station in Chattogram, said, “About 60 per cent of the 350 cows we reared this year have already been sold. The cows will be delivered to the buyers 1/2 days before Eid.”
He said, “Due to the increase in fodder prices, the price of sacrificial animals this year has slightly increased compared to last year. On average, the price of each cow is 20 per cent higher than last year as the price of animal feed has increased by more than 40 per cent.”
Md Iqbal Hossain, owner of Iqbal Agro Farm in Chandgaon Hamidchar area of the port city, told The Business Post, “There are small and medium-sized bulls and cows in our farm. We have prepared Desi, Shahiwal, Gir, Pakra cows of all sizes. For the convenience of the customers, we are taking a nominal booking fee for a sacrificial cow. We would deliver the animal to the customer just before Eid. Buyers have already booked 25 of the 95 sacrificial cows in my farm.”
“The cows which have already been sold will remain in our farm. The food, treatment and rearing of the cow till Eid is absolutely free. Anyone can take delivery any day before the Eid by booking in advance,” he added.
Traders said that the demand for small to medium-size cows is high this year.
Ahnaf Chowdhury, a resident of Chawkbazar area in the city, told The Business Post, “I have already purchased cow from a farm. I will bring the cow two days before Eid. The price of cattle this year seemed higher than last year.
According to the district livestock office, among the 8,42,165 sacrificial animals reared in Chattogram this year, 5,26,325 are cows, 71,333 buffaloes, 2,44,405 goats and sheep, and 102 others.
In 2022, 8,19,442 animals were locally produced in Chattogram whereas 8,01,350 were slaughtered. It means, the production last year was more than the local demand.
Livestock officials said 222 permanent and temporary animal markets will be set up in 15 upazilas of Chattogram this year. The district livestock office has formed 73 medical teams for the Eid cattle markets.
District Livestock Officer Dr Md Alamgir said, "In Chattogram, the sale of animals has already started in the farms. More than 3,000 animals have been sold online so far. It will take a few more days for launching the animal markets.
