xS.A. Shofiee, Sylhet :
With hardly a week is left for the Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival for the Muslims, cattle markets in the Sylhet city and 12 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 Kazirbazar, Jalalpur, Lalabazar, Kamalbazar, Pirerbazar, Mirapara, Bypas Point, Tamuki and Laccatura field 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. Besides the local buyers, the wholesale cattle traders especially from Chittagong and Sylhet 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 Sylhet.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.
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 Ali Hussain a local trader. The price of an ideal sized cow or buffalo starts from Tk 40,000 to 70,000 and a sheep or goat can be purchased from Tk 8,000 to 19,000. In addition to the city’s biggest cattle market- Kazirbazar hat, some temporary markets have been set up at six place in the City.
Abdul Haye a cattle trader said “Transport fare might have an impact on the cattle price,” 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
Dupchanchia Correspondent reports : Sacrificial animal markets have gained momentum with numerous buyers and hundreds of sacrificial animals ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival for the Muslims, in Dupchanchia upazila of Bogra.
A huge number of sacrificial animals are being brought for sale at different cattle markets in the upazila like Dhaphat, one of the biggest cattle market not only in Eid-ul-Azha but also around the year, Taluchhat, Chumuhony hat, Shaharpukurhat, Bibirpukurhat, Bazardighi hat and Altafnagarhat.
The leaseholder of Dhaphat Sayed Hossain said, “The cattle traders visit this hat coming from different districts of the country.” ” Besides the cattle are being sent in Dhaka, Mymensign, Chittagong, Sylhet and other adjacent district from the beginning month of Zil hajj.” He added. A buyer of sacrificial animal Saiful Islam from Gunaher village said, “There were plenty of supplies of cattle to the markets and their prices were exorbitant in some extent in comparison to the previous year’s Eid-ul-Azha.” “There is no shortage of cattle supply to the markets despite total stoppage of importing cattle and buffalo from the neighboring country this year.” He added.
UNB from Benapole (Jessore) adds: Sale of sacrificial animals has gained momentum at bordering Bagachra Satmile cattle market with less than one week left for Eid-ul-Azha, second biggest religious festival of the Muslims.
The largest of its kind in the south-western region, the market witnesses a vast crowd of buyers with huge consignments of cattle landing daily. A large number of cattle, most of which are brought in the country from India through different border points under Jessore and Satkhira districts in illegal ways, are put on display here for sale on the two haat (market) days-Saturday and Tuesday-a week.
Traders from 20 districts, including Dhaka, Kushtia, Sirajganj, Jhenidah, Chapanawabganj, Chittagong, Faridpur and Noakhali, come with cattle to the market located beside the Jessore-Satkhira highway, about 37 kilometres away from Jessore district town. About 15,000-20,000 cattle are put in the market for sale on every haat day while on an average nearly 10,000 cattle are sold.
Expressing satisfaction over the sale of cattle in the market, controller of the haat, ATM Shariful Islam, also Sharsha upazila nirbahi officer, said the government is earning a good amount of revenue through the cattle market as commission of Tk 100 is being realised against sale of each cattle there.
The UNO said the cattle market is being run under the supervision of the government as a case is pending with the High Court over the operation of the market.
Faird Gazi Baperi, a cattle trader who came from Chittagong to purchase cattle in the market, said he has bought 123 Indian cattle and sent two truck loads of cattle to Sagarica Cattle Market in Pahartoli of Chittagong.
The cattle trader said he will sell each of the cattle for
Tk60,000-1,20,000 and added that he has to spend Tk1,000-2,000 as
transportation cost for sending each cattle to the capital.
If cattle prices remain low, he will have to incur loss, said Farid Gazi.
A cattle trader from India, Debprasad Mandal, said it takes five to seven days for them to take cattle from different Indian states to the border, adding that they can not feed the cattle while bringing them to border.
For this, Dichlorophen injection is pushed into the bodies of the cattle so that they remain fresh and fit after tedious journey, said the Indian cattle trader.
Asked whether they check health of sacrificial animals in the market, ATM Shariful Alam answering in the negative said the upazila livestock officer has been informed about the matter.
