A cattle market in Rajshahi —FE Photo About 0.4 million (4 lakh) animals are ready for sacrifice in Rajshahi district on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Azha, which is about 70,000 more than the demand.
On the other hand, there is a shortage of sacrificial animals by 50 per cent in Chandpur district this year.
As estimated by the authorities, there will be no shortage of animals in Rajshahi this Eid; rather there will be a surplus of it by around 70,000.
But since the presence of buyers and sellers is very low, the cattle markets of Rajshahi are yet to get momentum.
The market insiders attribute the low turnout of customers to the intense heat and Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) election.
Rajshahi city people are now busy campaigning for the election to be held on June 21.
Apart from this, city dwellers are suffering from scorching heat.
As a result, buyers and sellers and cattle and goats are still not coming to the animal markets as expected. So the animal markets of Rajshahi have not yet gained momentum.
According to the Chapainawabganj office of the Department of Livestock, the district has 1,76,690 animals, as 12,159 farmers in its five upazilas have reared sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha this year.
According to the Rajshahi office of the Department of Livestock, 3,92,645 animals for sacrifice have been registered so far this year. Among them, 1,19,286 are cows and buffaloes and 2,73,359 goats.
Meanwhile, 3,24,977 animals were sacrificed in the district last year. This time too there is demand for this number of sacrificial animals.
As a result, there are currently more than 70,000 sacrificial animals in the district compared to the demand. This number is expected to cross 0.1 million (one lakh) before the festival.
In Rajshahi district, 16,545 farms and different households have been rearing these sacrificial animals. The owners will sell these animals in various markets of the district based on the demand.
However, the cost of rearing has increased due to the high price of cattle feed for the last few years. In such a situation, there is no need to import sacrificial animals from outside the country.
Dr Zulfikar Md. Akhtar Hossain, Rajshahi District Livestock Officer, said, "According to the database, there are more than 70,000 exceeded sacrificial animals in the district so far. Before the sacrifice, this number will exceed 0.1 million (one lakh). This time too, Rajshahi's animals will meet the needs of other districts".
Arafat Rubel, owner of Saudagar Agro Farm in Rajshahi, said, "A total of 30 cows have been reared in his farm. A few cows have already been sold. But the expected price is not available. As the people of the city are now busy with the city elections, the presence in the market is less. Apart from this, cows and goats are being brought to the market less due to the fear of heatstroke due to intense heat. As a result, the rest of the cows will be taken to the market after a week".
He also said that due to the high price of food, the cost of rearing animals has also increased. So he is worried about getting a fair price.
City haat is the biggest Pashuhat in Rajshahi. Atiqur Rahman Kalu, the lessee of this market, said, that City Animal Market is held on Sundays and Wednesdays during the week. But the sale of sacrificial animals has not yet started. The city dwellers are busy with the upcoming RCC elections, besides the intense heat. The market is expected to start filling up after another week.
Shamim Ahmed, Rajshahi District Commissioner (DC) said More than 0.4 million (4 lakh) animals have been prepared in the district while the demand of 3,24,677 sacrificial animals on the occasion of upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. So the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been called upon to pay special attention to prevent any cattle from entering the country through the border area to ensure that the farmers and ranchers get a fair price for the sacrificial animals.'
Chandpur has 50 per cent shortage of sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha this year.
This was disclosed the District Livestock Officer Dr Md Bakhtiaruddin while talking to the FE correspondent.
However, he is hopeful that despite this deficit, there will be no shortage of sacrificial animals in the district.
He said, "A total of about 70 thousand 230 heads of cattle are actually required to meet the demand for sacrificial animals in the coming Eid-ul-Azha in the eight upazilas of the district but in total, we have (as office record shows) as many as 35 thousand 402 cows, bulls, oxen, buffaloes and goats and sheep in the district in about 1050 farms".
However, District Livestock Officer Dr Bakhtiaruddin hopes that there are countless animals in the bordering / neighbouring upazilas around the geographical areas of the district. From Daudkandi, Gouripur and Chandina Upazilas of Cumilla and also from Ghoserhat, Barhamganj, Shakhipur and Tarabunia Upazilas of the neighbouring Shariotpur district and Roypur and Ramganj Upazilas of the adjoining district Luxmipur, cattle farm owners usually bring hundreds of sacrificial animals to Chandpur's 203 animals hats and bazars in eight upazilas and thereby people of the district can buy sacrificial animals as was witnessed in the past/ previous years. So, he hopes that there would be no dearth /shortfall of sacrificial animals for the coming Eid-ul Azha.
In the meantime, a small number of cows, bulls and oxen and goats are seen in the animal haat in Bakila Bazar (the largest animal haat of the district) on weekly haat days. The same is the case with Safarmali Animals' Bazar, Baburhat, West Chandra Bazar and Shornokhola animal haat in Chandpur Sadar.
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