Cattle markets pick up in port city

With Eid-ul-Azha just days away, cattle markets in the port city are seeing impressive turnouts -- with sale of sacrificial animals reaching its peak.

Traders said though sales were not satisfactory at the beginning of the week, the vibe at the venues turned festive yesterday. Taking opportunity of the weekly holiday, people could spend more time at the haat (cattle markets).

In Chattogram, a total of eight -- including two permanent -- haats have been set up centring the Eid celebration. Sagarika and Bibir Haat being the permanent ones, other markets have been set up at Steel Mill, Saltgola, Patenga, Karnaphuli, Postarpar and Komol Mohajan Haat.

Jamshed Khan, leaseholder of Sagarika cattle market, informed that the demand for local cattle was high as usual and customers this year were more likely to have their expectations fulfilled.

“Cattle import was less this year and more local breeders have brought their animals to the markets,” he said, adding, every day over 9,000 cattle were being brought to the market.

Besides locals, traders from Chapainawabganj, Kushtia, Jashore, Rangpur, Panchagarh and Naogaon have brought their cattle to the haats in port city, informed Md Ariful Islam, leaseholder of Bibir Haat.

He said the price of a medium-sized cow started from Tk 60,000 while the asking price of big cows was at least one lakh. It may vary depending on the situation, he added.

“We are a little worried because of the rain, as the price of cattle tend to fall in such situations,” he said.

Visiting the major cattle markets in the city yesterday morning, this correspondent saw the venues abuzz with buyers examining the animals, bargaining with traders, and taking away animals they just purchased while yelling the price to nearby visitors.    

Shahjahan Khan, while walking away with his Tk 85,000 cow from Sagarika cattle market, told The Daily Star that though he might get the same cow at a lower price after a day, he preferred making an early purchase as an important part of Kurbani (sacrifice) is taking care of the animal.

Another buyer, Ashraf Uddin Masud, said he just came to check the prices. He would buy his sacrificial animal the next day.

Meanwhile, it started to rain and traders got busy getting their cattle under a roof. Md Didar, a trader, expressed his apprehension, saying, “Things won’t turn out good if this rain continues!”

Eventually, the rain did not last long and sale continued under a bright sky.

To ensure security, members of law enforcement agencies were seen roaming in the markets while counterfeit-currency detecting machines were provided from Bangladesh Bank.