Cattle markets in different districts are yet to get momentum due to high prices of the sacrificial animals this year.
In Bhola, cattle markets have failed to draw attraction and momentum of buyers due to abnormal rise in prices and a fewer number of cattle
in the market ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the  second largest festival of Muslim.
On Friday, the cattle market in Bhola sadar it is found that the
arrival of cattle and goats is not significant like previous years due to poor flow from India and other parts of the country.
Although buyers are coming to the markets the sale has not picked up
due to the higher prices. It is found that a small size cow is selling at Tk 30,000-Tk40,000 and the price of the big one ranges between
Tk 80,000 and Tk1.5 lakh in Bhola market.
Hafiz Master, a buyer, said due to the poor supply of cattle the prices are high in the market to frustration of the buyers.
One Abu Mia of Charpata village in Daulatkhan upazila said the prices of cattle and goats rose by 20 to 40 per cent in comparison with previous year. Despite its satisfactory supply the price of goat is relatively higher this year.
 Nuru Mia, 60, a professional cattle trader of Bhola town, said the price is not higher considering the cost involved in raising the animal.
In Lalmonirhat, prices of the sacrificial animals are higher than the previous year in all the local markets of the district despite abundant supply of Indian and local domestic cattle. Durakuti cattle market is known for Indian cattle while Nayarhat, Borobari Haat,Chaparhat,Mohiskhocha Hat are famous for local cows. Though markets are flooded with cattle the price is high, a trader of Chittagong told the correspondent.
Every year, he comes here to purchase cattle, but this year price is high. He expects to buy five trucks load of cattle; but he has finished buying of bulls enough for one truck.
In some local cattle markets managing committees are collecting excessive toll from the buyers and sellers, alleged the buyers. A mobile team, led by a magistrate of Lalmonirhat, visited some cattle markets and fined the delinquents for malpractice.
In Bogra, sacrificial animals have started pouring into local markets with the Eid-ul Azha festival getting closer.
Sources said the Indian cattle supply will remain low. But still the sale in the markets is gaining momentum following adequate supply in the Bogra cattle markets. However, the price of sacrificial animals is showing a rising trend in several cattle markets in Bogra and adjacent districts.
The wholesale buyers from different parts of the country, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Barisal, Kushtia and Khulna are busy taking truck-load of sacrificial animals to urban markets.
 Abdul Zabbar, a cattle trader from Dhaka, said this year’s business is better than that of last year as the price has increased by about 15 per cent. “We can earn a bit more than last year,” he said.
He said the price of a big size bulls is higher by Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000 on an average this time.  Bull owner Abdus Sattar of Mahasthan Garh village of Bogra said he sold his bull at Tk 60,000 on Thursday at Kalitola Haat, which he expected to sell at Tk 70,000. An extra large bull is being sold at rates between Tk 60,000 and Tk 70,000 against last year’s rate of Tk 65,000 to Tk75, 000 and a large one at Tk 50,000 to Tk55,000 against Tk 55,000 to Tk 60,000.
A medium size bull is being sold at Tk 35,000 to Tk 45,000 against the last year’s Tk 45,000 to Tk 50,000, while small one is selling at Tk 25,000 to Tk 30,000.
  Meanwhile, a large size goat is being sold at Tk 15,000 to Tk 20,000, medium size at Tk 10,000 to Tk 13,000 while a small one at Tk 5,000 to Tk 8,000 at different markets in Bogra.
Some traders said there has been a less inflow of cattle for Eid-ul-Azha this year as both Bangladesh and India have tightened security on the border pushing up prices.  They have also identified extortions and payment of illegal tolls as reasons for the rise in prices of the animals.
“Sufficient security measures have been taken at the cattle markets,” said Md  Asaduzzaman, superintendent of police (SP) of Bogra.
Fake currency identification machines have also been set up at the markets for protection against cheating.