BSS, Rajshahi :
With hardly a week is left for the Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival for the Muslims, cattle markets in the city and nine upazilas of the district have gained momentum with numerous buyers and hundreds of sacrificial animals.
A huge number of sacrificial animals are being brought for sale at different cattle markets in the district like City hat, Naohata hat, Baneswar hat, Keshor hat, Kanthakhali hat, Rajabari hat, Kakonhat, Mohisalbari hat and Machmoil hat.
Traders said there were plenty of supplies of cattle to the markets and their prices were exorbitant in some extent in comparison to the previous years Eid-ul-Azha. There is no shortage of cattle supply to the markets despite total stoppage of importing cattle and buffalo from the neighbouring country this year, said Golam Mostofa, a local trader.
The price of an ideal sized cow or buffalo starts from Tk 30,000 to 60,000 and a sheep or goat can be purchased from Tk 7,000 to 18,000.
In addition to the city’s biggest cattle market- City haat, some temporary markets have been set up at Court Bazar, Shaheb Bazar Zero point, Railway Station, Naodapara Aam Chattar and Kazla.
Besides the local buyers, the wholesale cattle traders especially from Chittagong and Dhaka are still purchasing heads of cattle from those haats and sending those to various places in the country for sale.
This year, the demand for domestic animals for sacrificial purposes has been seemingly increased as the wholesalers are sending large animal consignments to different big markets from Rajshahi.
It was informed that the price of sacrificial animals was steady but the price may shoot up a bit because of the soaring price of animal food and transport cost this year. “Transport fare might have an impact on the cattle price,” said Abdul Jabbar, a cattle trader.
The farmers said because of high prices of fodder, many farm owners sold their cattle and opted for other trades as it was not possible for the farmers to gain profit in this business.
Meanwhile, currency screening machines were installed in some of the cattle markets in the city and nine upazilas of the district with a view to resist the use of fake notes in the markets on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul- Azha.
Sarder Tamij Uddin, Acting Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, told BSS that the RMP had taken all necessary measures to ensure law and order in and around the cattle markets.
RMP installed temporary security camps at every cattle market in the city. “Besides, patrol teams and plain-cloth police would also be deployed,” added Tamij Uddin.
He said the RMP had taken measures so that the cattle markets are not set up on roads and streets disrupting the vehicular movement.
