Cattle sale gathers steam in Chattogram markets

CHATTOGRAM, June 14: Sale of sacrificial animals gained momentum in the markets of Chattogram on Friday, the last weekend before Eid-ul-Azha, the second religious festival of the Muslim community.
Sale of sacrificial animals will increase from today (Saturday), that means two days ahead of the Eid, traders expressed the hope while talking to The Financial Express.
Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has set up seven temporary cattle markets in the port city for Eid-ul-Azha this year upon permission from the district administration. There were 12 cattle markets in Chattogram last year.
The seven temporary cattle markets include East Hussain Ahamed Para TSP Ground, Karnaphuli ground at Ward No. 16, TK Group Ground in Butter Fly Park area, Karnaphuli Bridge side area, Wajedia Point area at Panchlaish, CDA Sands Ground at Outer Ring Road in the port city and Boro Pole Market.
Sources said there are three regular cattle markets- in Bibirhat, Sagarika and Postarpar area.
The seven temporary markets were leased for only 10 days before Eid-ul-Azha.
The CCC approved the lease of Pahartoli Sagorika cattle market and Postarpar and Bibirhat cattle markets for one year.
Sources said there are more than 200 cattle markets in the rural areas of Chattogram. Besides, several hundred seasonal cattle traders will sell sacrificial animals on the roads and in lanes and bi-lanes of the city.
Around 200 to 300 wholesale traders supplied cattle in these markets.
In the meantime, many of the city dwellers have already bought their sacrificial animals from local traders or village markets for Eid-ul-Azha.
Besides, many are buying animals from agro farms while many are making the purchase from online markets in the current year.
Siddik Ahamed, a city dweller, said that he collected four cattle heads from a rural area of Satkania on Friday for himself and his relatives.
Saifuddin Khaled, a farmer, said, "Many of our sacrificial animals have already been sold. Some purchased cattle by talking over the phone while some fixed their choices by visiting the farms."
According to the District Livestock Office, the demand of sacrificial cattle in Chattogram district is 8,85,765 in the current year.
But 8,52,359 sacrificial animals including cows, bulls, goats and sheep have been kept ready sale, meaning there will be a deficit of 33,406 animals.

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