Find your sacrificial animals online

A local e-portal company has introduced an online marketplace for sacrificial animals for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, with the aim to cater to the busy city dwellers and non-resident Bangladeshis.
Amardesheshop.com, a component of the Amar Desh Amar Gram e-commerce initiative of Future Solution for Business (FSB), has posted details -- such as height, weight, picture and price tag -- of 30 cows since October 6.
The prices, which are inclusive of service and bank charges, range from Tk 27,500-Tk 82,500, and can be remunerated by bank card, direct bank transfer or bank draft.
“We will take care of the entire process, starting from the purchase to the distribution of meat on buyers' behalf,” Sadequa Hassan Sejuti, the managing director of FSB, told The Daily Star.
The cattle trading site comes at a time when online shopping is fast becoming popular in Bangladesh.
In the past year, nearly a dozen online shopping portals or e-trading platforms have popped up, following Bangladesh Bank's introduction of online payment service via debit or credit card in the local currency.
From the comforts of one's home, Bangladesh's three crore-odd internet users can purchase products and services starting from vegetables and clothes to books, computer accessories and travel tickets.
“We are working as a bridge between buyers and sellers,” said Sejuti.
Farmers who are interested in selling cattle can upload the pictures, along with prices and transport costs, of their cows and goats on to the company's website.
Around 200 cows are scheduled to be put up by next week, said Sejuti.
The e-commerce site has initially targeted those who want to distribute the meat of their sacrificial animals among the poor of their villages but live abroad or in the cities.
“It will save people from having to physically go to the cattle markets and transport the animals back to their homes,” Sejuti added.
The company will gather the necessary documents, photos and videos of the Qurbani during the Eid-ul-Azha and forward them to the buyers.
Sejuti further said the company offers home delivery services for the clients at a cost of Tk 5,000 on average.
“The online trading of sacrificial animals will reduce the cattle price as there will be no middleman,” added Sejuti.
The company, which is currently serving its customers through its seven e-centres in Mongla, Narsingdi, Tangail, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Rangpur and Sylhet, has so far received five orders, with many in the negotiation stages.
FSB, a youth group that introduced e-commerce in the country in October 2009, has already clinched United Nations World Summit Youth Award 2011 for creating outstanding digital content for rural people.
The company has a direct links with around 5,500 rural people, including farmers, weavers and fishermen, who post their produce at the portal for sale.
“As the money will be transacted through online banking, it is safe for traders,” said Sejuti.
It has also a database of around 8,000 registered customers and sells 1.5 lakh worth goods weekly on average.

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