BSS, Rajshahi :
With only three days 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 haat, Naohata haat, Baneswar haat, Keshor haat, Kanthakhali haat, Rajabari haat, Kakonhat, Mohisalbari haat and Machmoil haat.
Traders said there were plenty of supplies of cattle in the markets and their prices were similar to the last Eid-ul-Azha. The price of an ideal sized cow or buffalo starts from Taka 30,000 to 80,000 and a sheep or goat can be purchased from Taka 5,000 to 18,000 according to size.
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, Court 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.
Meanwhile, the import of cattle including cows and buffalos has totally been stopped. 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.
Local cattle farmers are facing huge challenges and heavy loss because of the smuggling of animals from India.
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, petrol 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.
