Rain ruins buyers’ mood

Although Eid-ul-Azha is only four days away and cattle markets are crammed with sacrificial animals, a handful of buyers were seen at cattle markets in Dhaka city today due to heavy rains since morning.

Visiting different cattle markets in the city, the UNB correspondent found sellers eagerly waiting for customers but few were visiting the markets.

The correspondent visited the cattle markets located at the open ground of Amulia Model Town, Aftabnagar Eastern Housing Dawkandi Endulia, Hazaribagh field at Zigatola, Lalbagh Rahmatganj playground and open space adjacent to Kamalapur Stadium and open space of Shanir Akhra-Daniya playground.

Talking to UNB, some traders said they were disappointed due to the unfavourable weather condition.

Suman Sheikh, a cattle trader from Thakurgaon, said, "We're yet to get the genuine response from customers. A few buyers are coming but no one is buying."

"Maybe people are waiting for the last two days to buy their sacrificial animals. If rain continues till the last two days before Eid, it'll be a very tough situation for us," he said.

The correspondent also found that all the cattle market leasers have expanded the haats violating the terms and condition of lease, and the extended portions of the haats do not have adequate facilities.

The cattle traders of the extended portions of the haats are enduring too much of sufferings with their cattle under the open sky.

Some of the traders said now they have no other option as they have brought their cattle from far-flung areas.

They are taking special measures to protect animals from rains and mosquitoes.

Twenty-five makeshift cattle markets have been set up in the capital under Dhaka North and South City Corporations (DNCC and DSCC).

The DSCC is hosting 14 cattle markets, while the DNCC is accommodating the other 11. Apart from the makeshift cattle markets, the permanent cattle market in Gabtoli will also be in business.