Cattle sale yet to gain impetus in city

Jubair Hasan and Yasir Wardad | Published: September 22, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

The city's cattle markets started witnessing ample stock of sacrificial animals on Monday, brushing aside the speculation over short supply of such animals following India's strict border policy.
However, sales in the markets are yet to gain momentum with just three days to go before celebrating the Eid-ul-Azha (on Sep 25), leaving cattle traders in doldrums over their business prospects.
It happened so, as the buyers were seen observing a 'wait-and-see' policy thinking the supply of cattle would increase further in the remaining days ahead of the Eid, and subsequently their prices would fall.
Many traders brought an increased number of cows, bullocks, buffalos and goats, predicting a low influx of Indian cattle this year following the border ban.
Sensing a possible supply shortage, some of the traders changed their business strategy. They reared their own cattle for months to get higher prices instead of their previous business approach to collect cattle a few days before the Eid festival.
According to the traders, if the ongoing rainfall continues further, it would wash way their business prospects in the form of discouraging buyers visiting the markets.  
However, visiting the city's lone permanent cattle market at           Gabtoli and temporary markets at Kamrangirchar, Lalbag, Aftab Nagar and Sadek Hossain Khoka Playground, the FE found that the Indian ban on cattle export had no impact on cattle supply.
"There are too many animals, but fewer customers. I could not sell a single cow although I've been here since Sunday," said Abu Taher Khan, a cattle trader, who brought 19 medium and large-size animals at Aftab Nagar cattle market.   
He said presence of the customers is too poor because of spells of monsoon and subsequent mud and filth in the markets, which is very discouraging for the traders.
"I would never come to Dhaka, if I incur loss this time like the previous two years," he said.
Cattle, coming from India, as well as of local indigenous and Australian varieties are all available in the markets. Their prices range between Tk 25,000 and Tk 2.50 million, while goats are available in between Tk 5,000 and Tk 45,000.   
At the same time, some 10 camels were put on sale at Gabtoli cattle market, with prices ranging from Tk 0.7 million to Tk 0.9 million.
The traders were seen wrapping up their animals with long polythene sheet to protect those from downpour.
Mallik Bepari, a cattle trader from Kushtia Sadar upazila, has brought the most expensive bullock named 'Parbati' at Gabtoli market.
He charged Tk 2.50 million for it, and said would not sell it at less than Tk 1.6 million, although a buyer offered Tk 1.3 million for it.
"Last year we went back with four cows, incurring Tk 1.0 million loss. God knows what will happen this year," he said.
Md Tariqul Islam, a trader from Bhuapur of Tangail who brought 20 bullocks with an investment of Tk 12 million, said the cattle traders have changed their business strategy to recoup last year's losses.
He said most of the traders earlier brought cows just a few days before the markets were launched, and sold those after fattening unscientifically.  
He said: "For providing healthy cattle, we ourselves have reared cows for last one year, and have brought more animals this year to have good prices."
Most of the customers were found visiting the cattle markets only to observe the current market trend and supply situation of the animals.
Md Moniruzzaman, who visited Aftabnagar cattle market, said most of the buyers like him came to the market only to see price trend and supply situation.
"The traders are charging high prices this time. But I hope the prices would go down following increased supply," he added.
However, a few customers were also seen buying animals of their choice on the day.
Market operator of Gabtoli cattle haat - Md Lutfar Rahman - said the number and varieties of cattle have increased this year.
"We were in fear that supply of cattle might decline. But our prediction proved wrong."
He said nearly 0.10 million cows would be sold at Gabtoli. "Hopefully, the sale would increase from today (Tuesday)," he added.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) launched operation of 23 mobile courts to check setting up cattle markets on roads, taking additional amount as hasil (charge), and to maintain security in and around the cattle markets by checking irregularities.
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