Adequate supply of sacrificial animals keeps prices low

---

Mashiur Rahaman
Adequate supply of sacrificial animals in the capital's six markets is keeping the price comparatively low this year ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Azha festivity.
"You can buy a medium size cow, the most preferred sacrificial animal by customers, with Tk25000 to Tk35000," Abdul Mazid, a smiling customer told the FE while coming out of the city's Kamalapur cattle market Thursday.
He found the price 'within the reach,' he added.
Upon visiting several markets, it was observed that the markets this year were dominated by small and medium size cows. Similarly, supply of goats, another preferred sacrificial animal for the country's Muslim community, was also adequate.
"Price of a comparatively slim goat is charged at Tk 2500 while one can get a larger one at Tk 5000," traders told the FE adding trade is excellent as the lower price is encouraging even the middle income people to buy separately.
Buyers including the middle class and lower-income groups were found purchasing sacrificial animals at the big markets because of affordable prices, buyers said.
Despite some dissatisfaction over the profit percentage, traders said they are looking for making good profit by selling more in number.
"It is good that we can sell out our lots early and can invest again for additional profit," Gholam Mowla, a cattle trader from the country's northern districts, said.
Market sources said the number of imported buffaloes, calves, cows and camels marked a significant increase in recent days and supply of locally-reared much healthier cattle flooded the local markets pushing down the prices.
They also said that the local animal husbandry sector had been flourishing fast everywhere including the poverty-prone 'char' areas as a result of the present state of social awareness and the ongoing poverty alleviation and social safety-net activities of the government.