With Eid-ul-Azha just three days away, sales of sacrificial animals at the cattle markets in Dhaka city were dull on Sunday.
Md Faruk, a resident of Jasimuddin Road near Kamalapur in Dhaka, buys several cows every year and sacrifices them. Like previous years, he has budgeted for sacrificial animals this year too.
“The cattle market at Kamalapur has not yet gained momentum. The wholesalers are still bringing cows. So, I came here to see what about the market now. I am assessing the price, supply and the primary condition of the market. I will buy cows a day or two before Eid,” he said.
Like Faruk, most of those who went to Kamalapur cattle market were only trying to know about cattle prices, but not buying them. Apart from Kamalapur, almost all cattle markets in the capital, including Meradia, Aftab Nagar and Jatrabari, have the same scenario. According to the sellers who brought cows from different parts of the country, selling and buying of cows has not started yet.
Both buyers and sellers are worried about the prices of cattle, sources said. The price of reared cows has increased. So, they are in uncertainty about whether they will get additional price.
Meanwhile, buyers fear the demand for small cows is higher than any previous year. If there are not enough cows available in the capital’s cattle market, then additional demand will be created. This can make the price out of reach.
Md Farhar, another Kamalapur cattle market visitor from Kushtia, said at least 3 to 4 people come to market, offering price every hour. I know they are not buyers. We hope that Eid shopping will gain momentum from Tuesday (tomorrow).
This correspondent found the road from Dakshin Kamalapur to Sadek Hossain Khoka Community Centre is full of cows. Apart from this, there is a proliferation of cattle markets around the Kamalapur Stadium, from Tttipara intersection to Gopibagh Railgate. Vendors are sitting on the streets of the areas around the market with various products including beef feed.
No big-sized cows are seen in this market, most of them are around 100 to 250 kg of meat. According to the cattle market authority, no cows were sold till yesterday afternoon.
Bringing cows from Pabna to Meradia market, Rabiul said, this time the price of cow is high. Cows are being sold at Tk 34,000 to 35,000 per mound. Last year I sold cows for Tk 27000 to 28000.
When asked why the price of cow is so high, he reasoned the supply of cows is also low. We three brothers came to market with 17 cows last Thursday. One has been sold so far. Buyers come and leave after knowing the price. Hopefully the sale will start from today, he added.
Where are the cattle markets
There are still 3 days left of the Eid-ul-Azha that will celebrate on June 29. Sacrificial animal markets will be held at 19 places in the two City Corporation areas of Dhaka on the holy Eid-ul-Azha.
Dhaka South and North City Corporations (DNCC and DSCC) fixed 19 places for sacrificial animal markets where there 9 markets in DSCC and 10 in DNCC. Meanwhile, both the city corporations have specified locations.
The places in DSCC where markets will be set up are -near Institute of Leather Technology College, Postogola Shashan Ghat, Khilgaon Meradia Bazaar, Jatrabari Dania College, open spaces adjacent to Dholaikhal Truck Terminal, near Lalbagh Rahmatganj Club, Amulia Model Town, Maitri Club in Khilgaon Railgate Bazar, place next to Little Friends Club and near Kamalapur Stadium.
The areas of Dhaka North City Corporations are – From Badda Eastern Housing to Block E, F, G, H to Block E, F, G, H of Aftabnagar, Dakshinkhan Kaola Sheal Danga, from Uttara Sector 17 Brindavan to BGMEA north, Bhatara (Sayed Nagar) cattle market, Basila garden city, Rajdhani Housing area, vacant plot of Bachila Garden City, Gabtali Cattle Market (Permanent), Mirpur Ward No. 6 Section No. 6 (Eastern Housing), Baparipara Rahman Nagar Residential Project, Dhaka Polytechnic Institute Playground and Khilkhet Khanpara.
