RAJSHAHI, July 24: Despite being situated near the frontier, arrival of cattle heads through various border points of Rajshahi remained suspended for the last seven months.
Though the day of the holy Eid-ul-Azha festival is approaching, the local cattle markets are now filled with the local breed of sacrificial animals.
Officials of Rajshahi Divisional Animal Resource Department informed in the City Haat, the largest cattle market in the northern region, there is an abundant supply of locally reared cattle heads to be used for sacrifice during the Eid.
Some cattle traders at the City Haat said sales and bargaining of sacrificial cattle heads have just started in the haat. They expressed their hope that supply of cattle head will be increased during the next weeks and also the number of customers at the haat will increase.
However, buyers at the haat said the price of sacrificial animals was exorbitant this year. They said the price of sacrificial animals would decrease with the increased supply of animals. The wholesale cattle traders have not yet arrived at the haats but they would start arriving within a couple of days, informed cattle traders at the haat.
Shahidul Alam in Chhoto Bongram area said he came to the haat to get information about the price of cattle head. He said the cattle traders at the haat were charging a middle-sized bull at Tk 70,000 to Tk 80,000 weighing about three maunds (120 kgs).
Price of a large bull is further more. He said a small bull was available at Tk 40,000 to Tk 50,000 while a medium-size one is available at Tk 60,000 to Tk 80,000 while a large bull is being sold at Tk 90,000 to Tk 100,000.
Atikur Rahman Kalu, a lessee of Rajshahi City Haat, said supply of cattle heads from India remained suspended for about seven months. As a result, the price of beef has also been increased in local markets. However, a large number of locally reared cattle heads are now being supplied to local markets.
Dr Antim Kumar Sarker, additional animal resource officer of Rajshahi district, said there are 17,700 cattle farms in the district where some 3,69,574 animals are being reared for selling in the upcoming Eid.
Demand for sacrificial animals would be near 4,04,500, the official said, adding, some 3,96,519 animals were slaughtered in the district last Eid-ul-Azha.
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