Rain wreaks havoc on Eid cattle traders

Intermittent showers since Saturday is not only causing immense suffering to thousands of cattle traders seeking better sales in the capital marking Eid-ul-Azha but also causing many of their animals to fall sick.

Deaths of at least five bulls which caught cold amid heavy rains were reported in two cattle markets, one in East End Club playground in Gendaria and another in Shonir Akhra, on Sunday and early yesterday.

This is prompting some traders to let go of sacrificial animals at prices "lower than their expectations".

Meanwhile, the market owners say sales were low yesterday although Eid was only three days away.

"We did not get any hasil (an amount the owners charge customers on the sale value) till 11:30am yesterday," said Anowar Hossain, one of the members of the East End Club cattle market committee. He said only six cattle were sold on Sunday.

Traders are hoping for a better turnout of customers from today.

On the animals falling sick, a veterinarian, Azmath Ali, told The Daily Star that animals reared with care become weak during journeys when food or water is not provided adequately.

Sudden weather changes lead to colds and fever, causing heart attacks, and the animals die within a short time after falling sick since their immune system is not as strong as that of humans, he said.

He suggested letting the animals drink lots of water once they reach the markets to avoid dehydration.

Another veterinarian, Mohammad Ashraful Haque, at the East End Club field said around 30 bulls fell sick there on Sunday due to the inclement weather.

One Hatem Ali said one of his 16 bulls died within two hours of falling sick at the Dhupkhola market around midnight on Sunday after he failed to find a veterinarian at that hour and that it was probably for the mud and damp environment.

The frustrated trader said he had bought the animal in Kushtia six months ago for Tk 70,000.

"I have been involved in the business for over four decades…I have never faced such a situation," he said, adding, "My two nephews also fell sick due to the heavy rain on Sunday."

Another trader, Mohammad Salahuddin, at the Sadeque Hossain Khoka playground market said he sold his bull to a butcher for Tk 35,000, half of what he paid for it five days back in Faridpur, after realising on Sunday that the animal had high fever.

He said he could not keep his cattle dry despite erecting a roof made of polythene sheets.

The condition was worse for traders at the Shanir Akhra market with one, Saidul Islam, saying some 70 percent of the market had gone under knee-deep water for several hours due to heavy rains on Sunday.

Two of his 35 bulls had already caught a cold, he added.

Another trader, Sulna Khan, whose son lost one of his 14 bulls there on Sunday evening, said it was bought five days ago in Faridpur for Tk 50,000.