The wholesale buyers from different parts of the country, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Barisal, Kushtia and Khulna are busy taking trucks of sacrificial animals to urban markets.

Most traders say they have invested heavily this year, as this is the election year. Many prospective candidates are likely to sacrifice a number of animals in respective electoral areas.

Abdus Salam, a trader from Barisal, told The Daily Star, that this year's business is better than last year as the price has increased about 20 per cent. "Excluding tax, we can earn a bit more than last year," he said.

Some traders said there has been a less inflow of cattle for Eid-ul-Azha this year as border guards of Bangladesh and India tightened security, pushing up prices.

They also identified extortion as reason saying intermediaries of police and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) had been taking toll at different points between Chapainawabganj and Natore as the cattle are being carried to Dhaka.

They said, many seasonal animal traders of India and Bangladesh are gathering cows at different border points in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon expecting a brisk business.

Another trader said the markets are crowded with customers in the evening. Most cows come from India. Prices of small sized cow are ranging between Tk 12,000 and Tk 20,000 and price of a medium sized cow is between Tk 25,000 and 35,000 on an average.

The traders are demanding between Tk 80,000 and 150,000 for a large sized cow.

Goats are being sold at between Tk 5000 and Tk 10,000.

Siddik Pramanik, a trader of Gabtoli Hat of Dhaka, said he had to pay Tk 200 to the police in Rajshahi and Natore, and Tk 100 each at some other points.

Some BDR personnel are taking Tk 200 to Tk 1,000 from each truck of cattle at Kanshat in Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi, said Aminul Islam, another trader.

Deputy Inspector General of Police in Rajshahi Range and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioners said they had beefed up security measures in every cattle market and at important points to ensure the safety of traders and buyers.

The cattle are mostly coming from the bordering points at Sona Mosque, Bulanpur, Sultanganj, Khanpur and through Padma river shoals in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, said sources. Poor people are carrying cows through smuggling risking their lives.

In such a situation, the traders in the border areas are demanding Tk 2,000 to Tk 4,000 more for each cow, said Mobarak Hossain, a wholesale buyer from Kushtia who is likely to take some 50 cows to Dhaka.

The middle and limited earning people are worried, as the prices of cattle have jumped to the double than previous years.

The major markets of this region include Damkura, Tebaria, Moukhara hats and hats at Paba, Mohonpur, Nawhata, Godagari, Mohisalbari, Rajabari, Kathakhali, Keshorehat, Tahirpur, Lalpur, Bagha and Baneswar.