Local cattle dominate markets

With Eid-ul-Azha just days away, sales in the cattle markets in Chittagong city are gaining momentum as turnouts are getting bigger.

Most traders, with their cattle from different parts of the country, have already arrived in the city's six markets, of which two are permanent and the rest makeshift. Scores of traders were still arriving every day and the leaseholders of the markets say the trend would continue till the eve of Eid.

What sets this year's cattle markets apart is the dominance of local cattle over Indian, Nepalese and Burmese. According to traders and leaseholders of the markets, 85-90 percent of the animals in the markets are local.

Saiful Huda Jahangir, a leaseholder of Sagarika cattle market (one of the two permanent markets), said, “Cattle from foreign countries, particularly India, were dominating Eid markets even five years ago, but the situation has been changing over the last three years. Local cattle are ruling the markets at the moment, and it's a good sign for our country,” he added.

Dr Md Reajul Huq, Chittagong district livestock officer, said the demand for sacrificial animals in the district is 6,55,000 this year, 60,000 higher than that of the previous year but people in the district have raised 5,82,000 cattle this year.

Although Chittagong is mainly an industrial district, the number of cattle reared in the district is substantial, he said, adding, “The deficit is usually met with cattle from Naogaon, Kushtia, Sirajganj, Pabna, Chapainawabganj, Jhenidah and Natore -- districts that traditionally raise cattle.”

Meanwhile, customers in different markets alleged that the price of animals seemed higher this year. Mosharraf Hossain, a businessman and resident of Nasirabad area, went to Bibirhat market on Friday evening.

“I came today not to buy an animal but to get an idea of the price,” he said, adding, “I would buy my sacrificial animal a day or two before Eid.”

Md Ibrahim was seen asking the price of a bull at Sagarika cattle market yesterday. He said traders were demanding high prices and hoped they would drop the price couple of days before Eid.

Denying the allegation, traders said they had to make big investments to raise the cattle and they could not afford to sell them at lower prices.

Md Idris came from Kushtia to Sagarika cattle market with 30 animals. He had reared the animals at his farm over the last six months.

“Prices of my animals range from Tk 60,000 to Tk 2 lakh,” he said, adding, “I had to invest a lot, and moreover, expenses have increased due to transport costs and traffic  jam on the highway this year.”

Nurul Alam, another trader, came to Karnaphuli cattle market from Sirajganj with 20 animals. “As the price of cattle-feed has increased, we have to invest more. Naturally, prices has also gone up,” he said.

Abdur Rahim Sawdagor, a leaseholder of Maijjertek makeshift cattle market, said with Eid day coming closer, traders were compromising on the prices.

“Prices of animals would decrease further in the next two days,” he said.