Makeshift cattle markets gaining momentum in Khulna, Rajshahi

The cattle markets in Khulna, Rajshahi started gaining momentum ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Azha, report agencies.
UNB reports from Khulna, a festive mood looks across Khulna city centring the Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festivals of the Muslim community which will be held on July 10, as cattle farmers started to display their animals at markets. Sources said the authorities have already begun to set up makeshift cattle markets in different areas of Khulna. Cattle trading at Satkhira, Tala, Atharomile, Chuknagar, Shahpur, Jiyala, Anduli has already started.
On the other hand, the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Authority has opened their cattle market at Jhoragate and Fulbarigate Balurmath, two largest makeshift markets on Sunday.
Talking to buyers and sellers, this correspondent found that customers' demand for local cows in small and medium size is high.
Customers are reluctant to buy large cows, bringing allegations against the farmers that they have been farming foreign-species cows by feeding medicine for much profit within a short time.
Contacted, several cattle farmers of Andulia Shahapur of Dumuria zone said the demand for local sacrificial animals increased several times in the last few years due to the halt in import of Indian animals through borders.
Besides, the government has taken several initiatives and given opportunities to the cattle farmers in a bid to increase production of animals at grassroots level, they said.
The farmers informed that many people are getting involved in cattle farming especially for sacrificial animals due to high demand for local cattle.
Farmer Rabiul Islam told the news agency that buyers from different parts of Khulna started visiting his farm ahead of the Eid every day.
He, however, observed that the buyers are offering a lower price compared to the market value. The price of cattle-feed is so high compared to any previous time.
BSS says from Rajshahi, cattle markets here have no scarcity of sacrificial animals with plenty of local animals as only six days have left for Eid-ul-Azha.
While visiting different cattle markets, this correspondent saw buyers' utmost interest to purchase local animals instead of artificially fattened ones for health concerns.
Native animals were seen dominating the cattle markets as a large number of animals including buffalo, bull, oxen, goats and sheep have been brought for selling in different markets.
Cattle rearing has been contributing a lot towards improving living and livelihood conditions of the grassroots population through enriching animal resources.
In most of the cattle markets, the buyers were seen purchasing native animals.
Abdur Rashid, 48, a farmer of Itaghati village under Paba Upazila, said he sold a bull at City haat at Taka 0.16 million (1.60 lakh). He also has four more bulls for sale before the Eid.
Atiqur Rahman Kalu, lease holder of City Haat, said the cattle markets here are witnessing a record supply of sacrificial animals as farmers boosted up local animal production to meet its growing demand during Eid season.