The sale of sacrificial animals at different cattle markets in Dhaka city picked up on Monday, just a day before Eid-ul-Azha.
Customers expressed a mixed bag over the prices of animals this year, but traders said they were hardly making a profit.
The majority of buyers said the price is higher than that of last year.
Yet, many of them said they bought animals at reasonable prices.
On the day, customers rushed to most of the markets saturated with an increased supply of cattle.
According to traders, the supplies included cows, goats and buffaloes.
They, however, expressed satisfaction over the prevention of Indian cow imports, giving hope for the local farmers.
During spot visits to Gabtoli, Kamalapur and Nayabazar cattle markets, the FE correspondents found a mad rush of potential clients.
Many sellers were found reluctant to lessen the prices of cattle despite the rush of the customers.
Medium-sized cows, which are in great demand, were selling between Tk 75,000 and Tk 1,00,000.
Siraj Mia, a trader from Sirajganj, said he brought 27 cows in Gabtoli cattle market for sale.
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"Customers showed interest to know about their prices, but were disinclined to pay accordingly," he told the FE.
Mr Siraj sold four cows till Sunday afternoon, each of them at Tk 1,00,00.
"The costs of rearing animals have gone up in recent months due to a hike in cattle feed prices," he said.
Transport cost has also increased, he added.
Some cows of monumental sizes at Gabtoli drew buyers' attention.
One of such cows called 'Raja Babu' was brought from Manikganj's Shaturia.
The Holstein Friesians variety is to be weighed around two tonnes with over six feet height and eight feet length, said its owner.
Eti Akter, daughter of the farmer who reared up Raja Babu, was seen tired of answering questions from the curious visitors.
"We're asking for Tk 2.5 million for Raja Babu," she told the FE.
A customer offered Tk 1.8 million for the gigantic animal, she added.
Abdur Rahman, a private service holder, talked to the FE at Kamalapur cattle market.
He said the traders demanded Tk 75,000 to Tk 1,00,000 for a mid-sized cow.
"I've been looking for a cow at Tk 50,000, but it seems a bit difficult to get one at my desired rate. Sellers are reluctant to reduce price," he said.
At cattle markets, most of the animals are brought from Manikganj, Pabna, Tangail, Jamalpur, Faridpur, Rangpur, Kushtia and Meherpur districts.
Traders said the cows priced between Tk 60,000 and Tk 100,000 are in demand for sacrifice.
"We spent a lot on the cows. The customers are offering far too low prices like in the last year," said Md Belal, a trader from Jamalpur.
"I have three cows left, but won't sell them at lower prices," he told the FE.
Customers have a preferred choice for local cattle rather than cattle brought in from Myanmar or India.
"Cattle prices may go up at the last moment," said Jabbar Sikder, a trader from Faridpur, at Nayabazar cattle market.
"I bought a cow at Tk 1,10,000 which was around Tk 80,000 last year," businessman Korshed Alam told the FE at Nayabazar.
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