Sales in Chittagong's cattle markets gaining momentum

With Eid-ul-Azha fast approaching, the port city's eight cattle markets are abuzz with buyers and traders.
The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) has leased out seven makeshift markets -- Dhanialapara area, Bibirhat, Patenga, Salt Gola, Karnaphuli Hat, Steel Mill Bazar and Kamal Mahajan Hat -- along with the permanent market in Sagarika, for the festival.
To ensure the markets run smoothly in the lead-up to the Eid, police and Rapid Action Battalion are putting in their efforts, and Bangladesh Bank has provided 15 fake-currency identifier machines, said Ahmedul Haque, a CCC estate officer.
Abdur Rahim Sawdagar, a leaseholder at Bibirhat cattle market, said there is sufficient supply of cattle this year, citing around 2,000 traders have come to the market with thousands of cattle.
“So the traders are in a position to offer reasonable price for their animals to the buyers.”
Aside from the local cattle, a significant number of Indian cattle have also been brought into the market, he added.
Afsarul Alam Babul, a leaseholder at Sagarika cattle market, said around 3,000 traders with thousands of cattle -- from Kushtia, Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Bogra, Jhenidah, Meherpur, Faridpur, Comilla and Pabna -- have come into the market.
“As sales are at an early stage, traders are demanding high prices for cattle,” he said, citing an ox priced at Tk 4.5 lakh, the highest so far.
Indian cattle seem to be in high demand in all the markets, costing between Tk 40,000 and Tk 80,000 each.
Ali Ahmad, a trader at Sagarika, said he has brought 50 cows from India.
“The cost of sacrificial animals is a bit high this year. The higher carrying costs have forced us to hike the prices of animals.”
He said traders have to pay Tk 45,000 for a cattle-carrying-truck that can load 15-16 cattle, while rampant extortion from Benapole to Chittagong raises the costs.
“We have to pay extortion in five to six points to different bodies, including the police and local goons.”
Abdul Aziz, a teacher, said cattle markets will be at their peak a day or two before the Eid, as most of the city dwellers do not have room to house the animals for that long.
The city council raked in Tk 3.15 crore as lease funds for the makeshift cattle markets, while the year's lease of the Sagarika market brought in another Tk 8 crore, according Ahmedul Haque, a CCC estate officer.