Traders hope cattle sales to go up in Dhaka in the last 2 days
Though the sale of sacrificial animals in the capital was very poor until yesterday, cattle traders expressed hope that the sale would gain momentum soon and they would get a good price for their cattle.
They are blaming inclement weather and a low turnout of customers for the poor sale. Fear also grips them since they suffered huge loss in the last three years.
During a visit to cattle markets in Kamalapur and Dhupkhola playground yesterday, traders were seen struggling to save their bulls in the heavy rain around noon.
Many of them expressed frustration as they could not sell even a single bull though they had brought cattle to the markets several days ago.
“I've brought 60 bulls from Faridpur three days ago, but could not sell a single one,” Mohammad Babul, a cattle trader of Faridpur, told this correspondent around 1:00pm.
Last year, he sold 25 bulls out of the 50 he had two days before Eid and the rest before the Eid day, he said.
“Though many cattle traders incurred huge loss last year, I made a profit of around Tk 1 lakh due to the early sale. But I am worried now as the presence of customers is very thin this year,” said Babul.
Kamal Hossian, who brought 11 bulls from Jhenidah to Dhupkhola cattle market, said he made a loss of Tk 4.15 lakh in the last two years, and if he suffered loss again, he would have to sell his home.
“Of the 11 bulls, I reared six. I took the rest from cattle farmers in my area with the promise of giving them a good return. If I fail, I'll be in trouble,” said Kamal.
HIGH PRICE
Buyers said cattle traders were asking Tk 10,000 to Tk 20,000 more for a medium-sized bull this year.
Rafiqul Haque, a resident of Motijheel AGB Colony, bought a bull for Tk 45,000. He said the same size bull cost him Tk 35,000 last year.
High price, high transport cost and additional price for fodder are the reasons for the soaring price of cattle, traders claimed.
SUFFERING DUE TO RAIN
Heavy rain over the last few days caused immense sufferings to the traders. They said many of their cattle got sick in the rain.
Anisuzzaman, who brought five bulls from Kushtia, said one of his bulls had already caught cold.
Mamunur Rashid, a veterinary surgeon of the Department of Livestock Services stationed at Kamalapur cattle market, said they treated around 50 bulls until 2:00pm yesterday, as many bulls were catching cold and suffering from fever.
A TK 25 LAKH BULL
Parbati, a four-year-old Australian bull, weighs about 30 maunds. Mulluk Bepari, who brought it from Kushtia to Gabtoli cattle market, was asking Tk 25 lakh for it.
He said a customer had agreed to buy it for Tk 13 lakh but he would try to sell it for Tk 16 lakh.