Ctg cattle markets gather momentum

With Eid-ul-Azha festivities kicking in, sales in cattle markets across Chittagong are picking up.

Almost all the eight cattle markets in the city are abuzz with people as city dwellers rush to buy their sacrificial animals. There is also an abundance of cattle brought in from different parts of the country and abroad at the markets.

Chittagong City Corporation has leased out six makeshift markets at different points: Dhanialapara, Patenga, Salt Gola, Karnaphuli Hat, Steel Mill Bazar and Kamal Mahazan Hat. In addition, two permanent markets in Sagarika and Bibirhat areas are also drawing in crowds.

Ahmedul Haque, CCC estate officer, said it earned more than Tk 2 crore by leasing out six makeshift cattle markets; it leased out the two permanent markets for a year for Tk 8 crore.

He said the police and Rapid Action Battalion are working to maintain security in these markets as well.

However, leaseholders fear losses for a negligence of CCC.

Rashed Uddin, leaseholder of the Sagarika Cattle Market, told The Daily Star that he may face losses as many illegal cattle markets have mushroomed in the port city.

There are five illegal cattle markets in Halishahar area alone, adjacent to Sagarika Cattle Market, he said. “We have informed the CCC officials but they are yet to take any action.”

Asked, Haque of CCC said they contacted the police on the issue. “We published notices in the newspapers to make people aware of these illegal setups.”

Rashed of Sagarika cattle market said a trader at his market asked for Tk 10 lakh for a bull on Wednesday. “The price of cattle is ranging between Tk 25,000 and Tk 2 lakh this year.”

The market has been picking up since Wednesday, Md Shahjahan, a leaseholder of Bibirhat Cattle Market, said. “We have urged CCC officials to evict illegal markets so that our sales are not affected, but we are still waiting to see any remedy.”

Shahjahan said around seven hundred traders with over 30,000 cattle have nested in his market, with an asking price range of between Tk 20,000 and Tk 4.5 lakh.

Shafiq Bepari, a trader at Bibirhat Cattle Market, said he bought cows from Satkania and Lohagara upazilas of Chittagong and expressed relief that he faced no extortion on his way to the market.

Traders said sales at the cattle markets will grow further in the last two days before Eid.