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 along with its adjacent areas have gained momentum with numerous buyers and hundreds of sacrificial animals of both local and imported.
A huge number of sacrificial animals are being brought from the neighbouring country India for sale at different cattle markets like City haat, Naohata haat, Baneswar haat, Keshor haat, Kanthakhali haat, Rajabari haat, Kakonhat, Mohisalbari haat and Machmoil haat.
Rajshahi City Corporation allowed installation of eight makeshift cattle markets in the metropolis which began to draw huge cattle, including imported ones from India.
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 25,000 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.
Dr Abdul Mannan Shikder, Commissioner of Customs, Excise and VAT, told BSS here that more than one lakh cattle heads and buffaloes were imported through eight corridors in Rajshahi, Chapainawabgonj, Naogaon and Joypurhat districts since July last contributing revenue collection valued at around Taka 4 crore.
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.
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.
Md Shamsuddin, Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), told BSS that all-out security measures were taken to check law and order in and around the cattle markets.
“Besides, we have introduced a special traffic management system to ease traffic congestion in and around cattle markets in the city,” he pointed out.
RMP installed temporary security camps at every cattle market in the city. Besides, petrol teams and plain-cloth police would also be deployed,’ added Shamsuddin.
Necessary measures were also taken so that the cattle markets are not set up on roads and streets disrupting the vehicular movement.
