Sales pick up, prices high
There is still two more days left before Eid-ul-Azha, and the sale of cattle at different markets of the capital got momentum yesterday.
Though a good number of cattle have reached markets with many more on the way, cattle traders are still charging Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000 more compared to last year's prices for a mid-sized bull.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The price is still high for all sizes of cows and bulls.
The price, however, dropped yesterday compared to Thursday and many customers are waiting for further drops in prices and have decided to purchase cattle observing the market for one more day.
“I have come to the cattle market at Eastern Housing in Mirpur-6 to observe the market. I stayed there till 2:00pm but did not get any suitable offer. I will come back again tomorrow,” said Anisur Rahman, a resident of Pallabi yesterday.
Arif, a resident of Monipur, who paid Tk 41,000 for a bull, said the price was around Tk 10,000 more than what he paid last year during the same time.
The price of cattle last year was low till two days before Eid but those who went to the market during the morning of the day before Eid had to pay a higher price.
Many of those customers came to the market early this year but did not find high prices compared to last year.
Many traders on the other hand are still not happy as they are not getting benefits as per their expectations and have started to sell their cattle by dropping the expected price in panic.
“I was hoping to make a profit of at least Tk 10,000 for each bull but I have made a profit of only Tk 20,000 after selling five. I fear that the price might drop as the supply is good,” said Tauhidul, a trader of Chuadanga, who brought 17 bulls at the Eastern Housing cattle market.
The price of goats is also high this year. “I have purchased a goat for Tk 9,000 which was Tk 7,500 around last year,” said Anowar Hossain, a Pallabi resident.
Ismail Hossain, a goat trader at the cattle market, demanded Tk 80,000 for a goat weighing around 50kg. He said for the last three years he reared the goat and will not sell if he does not get at least Tk 60,000.
GARBAGE BAGS
Both Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) are distributing bags for storing garbage after the animals are sacrificed.
Though DSCC is distributing the polythene shopping bags for free at all of its 14 makeshift cattle markets, DNCC is charging Tk 15 for each bag.
DNCC has made it compulsory for all the customers of sacrificial animals to purchase a bag from the Hasil (charge that buyers pay on the purchasing price) booth, where people go to give Hasil.
A DSCC official said they were distributing 11.2 lakh bags to the DSCC residents at the cattle markets or councillors' offices or slaughtering places.
CATTLE FALLING SICK
As the weather is very warm, a good number of bulls are facing dehydration while they were being brought from different districts to the capital. They also fell sick for staying in hot weather.
“We have given treatment to 40 bulls till 2:30pm. Most fell sick due to tiredness and because of the long journey,” said Shahinur, a livestock officer of the cattle market at Korail TNT field.
He suggested keeping the cattle in shade.
Pran Krisno Hawlader, a veterinary surgeon of the Eastern Housing cattle market, said the cattle traders should provide glucose saline to the cattle after their long journey.
CATTLE FOOD SALES GAIN MOMENTUM IN SYLHET
Our Moulvibazar correspondent reports: Sale of cattle foods including grass, straw, rice and leaves has begun to gain momentum in cattle markets and its adjacent areas under Sylhet city.
The temporary shops have flooded the footpaths, Station area, Court Road area, Paschimbazar and in front of the Dhaka-Sylhet highway.
“I sell huge bundles of grass every day, which are higher in demand. I sell each bundle for Tk 20 to Tk 50," said Faruk Mia, an owner of a makeshift cattle food shop in Kazirbazar area.
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