Sacrificial animals start arriving in city mkts

Sacrificial animals from different parts of the country have started arriving in the capital's permanent and makeshift markets with just a week to go before the Eid-ul-Azha celebration.

Belying the fear of a short supply, traders and market operators are expecting a good supply of animals this year as a large number of sacrificial animals from India and Myanmar are entering the country. Indian central government's strong vigil along the border to stop entry of India cows into Bangladesh has aroused the fear.

They also expressed their concern over their security in and around the markets because of recent media reports on active presence of dope (oggyan) parties and currency counterfeiters ahead of the festival.

While visiting the city's Gabtoli, Kamalapur and Banasree cattle markets on Thursday and Friday, this correspondent found that cattle-laden trucks were being unloaded there one after another. Some interested buyers were also seen visiting the markets.

Talking to the FE, Abdul Karim Miah, a trader who came to the Kamalapur Cattle Market from Pabna with 14 medium-sized cows, said buyers were mostly visiting the markets to observe the market condition only. "More animals will be brought in by Sunday evening. We bought the cows from various villages, as India's strict stance over cattle smuggling to Bangladesh has panicked the buyers," he said.

Cattle trading will hopefully start in full swing from Tuesday (September 22), he added.

Abdul Mazid, another trader who brought 22 cows from Sirajganj to Agargaon cattle market, said a small number of buyers came to the market and asked them whether steroid injections were used on the cattle on display.

"The buyers are asking prices afterwards. It seems to us that they are in serious panic over the use of steroid and hormone injections," he added.     

Shamsul Islam, owner of a cattle firm in Faridpur who came to the same market with 10 animals, said the likely push-ins of sacrificial animals from India and Myanmar could cause a massive blow to their business.

"We spent a large amount of money for a balanced feeding and perfect health of the animals of indigenous variety eyeing good business ahead of the Eid festival," he added.

The traders said they came to know from media reports that many groups have become active to trade forged currencies and target cattle traders for robbing them of with sedatives.

"It sparked panic among traders. We need enough security to this effect," he added.

However, law enforcement agencies have assured the traders of providing security to them and customers in and around the cattle markets.

Deputy Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Sheikh Nazmul Alam said several teams of the plainclothes police along with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have already been posted in and around the markets to arrest such criminals.

At the same time, a special drive is going on to nab the dope party men and currency forgers, he said.

When contacted, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) Nazneen Sultana said they have already installed fake currency identification machines at 17 temporary cattle markets in the capital and its two adjacent areas -- Shanir Akhra and Shyampur.

She said some 39 commercial banks were assigned in the capital to provide the service to detect counterfeit currencies.  

"Their service will not only be available in the city but also in other parts of the country and the areas having no branches of the central bank will be covered by the chest branches of Sonali Bank Limited (SBL)," she said.

"So, there is nothing to be worried about," she said.

The central bank also supplied a total of 450 such machines to the law enforcement agencies according to their requirement of which 170 were handed over only for Dhaka region.

Meanwhile, the persisting hot weather came as another problem to the market operators and cattle traders who were seen cooling the animals with water after a certain time to protect those from heatstroke, which could even cause death to the animals.

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