Rajshahi cattle traders wait for customers

The sale of sacrificial animals in the local cattle markets is yet to pick up even though there are just a few days left for Eid-ul-Azha. Despite the availability of a large number of sacrificial animals such as cows, buffalos, goat and sheep in the different markets in the district, sales so far have been low, much to the disappointment of traders. In anticipation of increased demand for sacrificial animals in big cities like Dhaka and Chittagong, many traders from Rajshahi have been transporting a large number of cattleheads for better prices. Safayet Hossain, a cattle fattener from the Bazaar para area of Gomastapur upazila in Chapainawabganj district, informed that he has been rearing two bulls for the last three years. He claimed to have spent Tk. 10 lakh so far to feed and take care of animals and expects to earn Tk. 15-17 lakh by selling them.  He wanted to keep the two bulls for two more years, but due to the exorbitant price of fodder and cattle feed, he has no option but to sell them now.
Hekmot Ali, a cattle trader from the Naohata area, who used to fatten animals for sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha, said many of the dairy farm owners are no longer involved in the trade because it has become very costly to maintain cattle and have opted for other businesses.  “A bundle of straw is sold for Tk. 8- 10, so how is it possible for cattle fatteners to survive and earn profit,” he said. The prices other things like oil-cake and chaff too have gone up. Also, due to competition from cheap smuggled cattleheads, many of those who used to rear cattle have abandoned the profession.  Mohammad Nuruddin, a trader from Naogaon at the city’s cattle market, said that there is plenty of supply in the various cattle markets of Rajshahi. So the prices are going to be the same as last year’s Eid-ul-Azha. Robiul Islam, another cattle trader, informed that people would start purchasing one or two days before Eid.
Many people are waiting for their relatives to reach from Dhaka, and other places where they work, so that they can join in the purchase of sacrificial animals.  The situation is not much different in other places in the city such as the City bypass market, the Kanthakhali market and the Mohisalbari market. At the moment, most of the local customers are only interested in finding out the prices of sacrificial animals. An average sized cow or a buffalo is available for Tk. 40,000- 50,000, while sheep or goat is being sold for a minimum price of Tk. 7,000. Cattle traders, however, are hopefuls that sale of sacrificial animals will pick up this week.

Rajshahi cattle traders wait for customers

The sale of sacrificial animals in the local cattle markets is yet to pick up even though there are just a few days left for Eid-ul-Azha. Despite the availability of a large number of sacrificial animals such as cows, buffalos, goat and sheep in the different markets in the district, sales so far have been low, much to the disappointment of traders. In anticipation of increased demand for sacrificial animals in big cities like Dhaka and Chittagong, many traders from Rajshahi have been transporting a large number of cattleheads for better prices. Safayet Hossain, a cattle fattener from the Bazaar para area of Gomastapur upazila in Chapainawabganj district, informed that he has been rearing two bulls for the last three years. He claimed to have spent Tk. 10 lakh so far to feed and take care of animals and expects to earn Tk. 15-17 lakh by selling them. He wanted to keep the two bulls for two more years, but due to the exorbitant price of fodder and cattle feed, he has no option but to sell them now. Hekmot Ali, a cattle trader from the Naohata area, who used to fatten animals for sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha, said many of the dairy farm owners are no longer involved in the trade because it has become very costly to maintain cattle and have opted for other businesses. A bundle of straw is sold for Tk. 8- 10, so how is it possible for cattle fatteners to survive and earn profit, he said. The prices other things like oil-cake and chaff too have gone up. Also, due to competition from cheap smuggled cattleheads, many of those who used to rear cattle have abandoned the profession. Mohammad Nuruddin, a trader from Naogaon at the citys cattle market, said that there is plenty of supply in the various cattle markets of Rajshahi. So the prices are going to be the same as last years Eid-ul-Azha. Robiul Islam, another cattle trader, informed that people would start purchasing one or two days before Eid. Many people are waiting for their relatives to reach from Dhaka, and other places where they work, so that they can join in the purchase of sacrificial animals. The situation is not much different in other places in the city such as the City bypass market, the Kanthakhali market and the Mohisalbari market. At the moment, most of the local customers are only interested in finding out the prices of sacrificial animals. An average sized cow or a buffalo is available for Tk. 40,000- 50,000, while sheep or goat is being sold for a minimum price of Tk. 7,000. Cattle traders, however, are hopefuls that sale of sacrificial animals will pick up this week.