Cattle business brisk after lull as customers swarm markets in Dhaka on Eid eve

The markets set up in Dhaka to sell sacrificial cattle for Eid-ul-Azha have been full of trade a day before the festival.

The traders said sale picked up pace after Thursday afternoon and continued to Friday after a few dull days.

Most of the cattle at many of the markets were sold by Friday afternoon.

Fewer number of cattle this year than those of past years from India have also put smile on local farmers' faces.

The customers, however, alleged higher prices and fewer cattle than last year, but they had to buy the sacrificial animal in last-minute bargains.

Half the cattle slaughtered throughout a year in Bangladesh are sacrificed during the Eid. Muslims are expected to slaughter 11.5 million cattle during the Eid this year.

Buyers crowded the Gabtoli Cattle Market in the afternoon, but the number of cattle was low.

They said the demand for small and medium-size cows was high, but most of such cows were sold out.

Sarder Ahsan Habib brought six large cows from Rajbarhi. He sold four until Friday afternoon.

He said Indian cows should come throughout the year, but not before Eid. "Then we would be able to buy cattle to raise at cheaper rates," he said.   

Alimuzzaman from Cantonment was haggling for a cow at the market. He was willing to pay Tk 130,000 while the trader was asking for Tk 170,000. They agreed to cut a deal at Tk 140,000 finally.

The customer said he saw cheaper cattle in the markets around the capital. "But the traders in Dhaka are charging as they wish."

The seller, Mainul Islam from Chanpainawabganj, however, did not look too happy.

He said he agreed to sell the cow at a 'cheaper' rate because it was the last of his herd of 12.

But trader Yunus Ali from Manikganj was happy after selling his cattle.

"The prices were low initially, but rose yesterday. Overall, the market was mixed. No one lost," he said.