Cattle sales yet to pick up in Dhaka

Sale in Dhaka’s cattle market is yet to pick up with only two days left for Eid-ul-Azha, scheduled to be celebrated on Wednesday as the country grapples to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Usually, the cattle markets become vibrant four to five days before the Eid but this year the markets in the capital and adjacent areas are yet to record good sales.

The supply of sacrificial animals is abundant. Traders who brought the animals from different parts of the country say they are quite frustrated at the low sales.
But they were optimistic that sales will go up from Monday.

Buyers, on the other hand, said that the asking price of cattle is much higher. Traders blamed the rise in fodder cost for the high prices.

SM Siddique Mamun, one of the coordinators of Aftab Nagar cattle market, told The Business Post that the sacrificial animals are coming in continuously though the trading has not yet begun in full swing.

Normally, residents of the capital prefer to purchase their sacrificial animals just a day or two before the Eid day to avoid the extra hassles.

Besides, today (Monday) is the last working day before Eid and people normally gather at the cattle markets just after the beginning of their Eid holidays, said Abul Hasem, one of the managers of Gabtoli cattle market.

Meanwhile, another trader also claimed that people are now coming to the cattle market just to have a look at the cows and leave after argument on prices.

Rafik Momen, a cattle trader, who brought 15 cows to Aftab Nagar cattle market from Pabna’s Santhia on Friday night, told The Business Post that he could not sell any cow yet.

Another trader Jamal Mollah, who brought 12 cows to Gabtoli cattle market from Kushtia’s Kumarkhali, said that he could sell only two cows in the last two days.

Hygiene rules

This year, 19 temporary cattle markets were allowed to be set up under Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation, with strict conditions of maintaining hygiene rules amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam visited the Dhaka’s Vatara Saidnagar cattle market and told reporters that strict action will be taken if hygiene rules and regulations are not properly followed in the cattle markets.

The DNCC is conducting mobile courts headed by executive magistrates in every cattle market under the Dhaka North City Corporation to make sure that people are complying with the health instructions and government guidelines, he said.

The mayor said that a 15-member monitoring team has been formed by convening Ward No-19 councillor Md Mofizur Rahman, who also have 13 other councillors and two veterinary officers. They will monitor the cattle market.