CHITTAGONG, Sep 18: Cattle markets in Chittagong are yet to gain momentum though both stock and supply of sacrificial animals are abundant.
The Eid-ul-Azha festival will be celebrated on September 25, less than a week away from now. According to the sellers, the prices of animals are now at an acceptable level.
However, the buyers are still observing the market trend, and looking for further reduction in prices of animals.
Local cattle have started arriving in the port-city markets from various areas, like - Chokoria and Lama of Cox's Bazar, Keranihat, Satkania, Banskhali, Lohagara and Rangunia of Chittagong, Rangamati, Jessore, Bogra, Chapai Nawabgonj, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Kusthia and Jhenaidah etc.
Besides, thousands of bullocks have already arrived in the markets from neighbouring India, Myanmar and Nepal, said the cattle traders.
The buyers said they are not interested to procure sacrificial cattle right now due to lack of enough facilities for rearing the animals in the port-city.
A number of people prefer to buy sacrificial animals from the cattle markets on the day they leave for village homes from the city for observing the Eid festival with their near and dear ones.
Chittagong City Corporation has leased out nine cattle markets -- two permanent and seven temporary -- in the city. The two permanent markets are -- Sagorika cattle market and Bibirhat cattle market.
The temporary markets are Saltgola, Steel Mill market, Komol Mohajon Hat, Patenga High School ground, Baro Pool market and Postarpar Goat market.
All these markets have abundant supply of bullocks, goats and buffalos. The traders have started sale of sacrificial animals from Wednesday.
But floating buyers are dominating the markets, and they are observing the market trend instead of procuring cattle, sellers said.
"The buyers are still waiting to see where the situation finally goes. We hope that by Sunday or Monday the buyers will throng the markets," said Abdul Aziz.
He has brought 40 bullocks for sale in Karnaphuli Market near third bridge area in the port-city.
While visiting Bibirhat and Karnaphuli markets on Thursday it was seen that supply of cattle was abundant, but the number of buyers was comparatively low.
Most of the buyers who came to the markets adopted a 'wait and see' policy. They said they would buy cattle after two or three days and by visiting different markets to select their preferred sacrificial animals.
Some of the buyers also said the supply of cattle in the market is ample, but their prices seem to be a little higher. The traders are bringing cattle in a good number every day. So the prices are likely to come down further in the next few days, they opined.
The traders, coming from northern districts with local and imported cattle, said they have suffered a lot in bringing their animals to the markets in Chittagong. It took three to four days to reach the port-city with cattle-laden trucks.
"We will be loser unless we get fair prices for our cattle," said a trader, who has brought 18 bullocks from Chapai Nawabgonj to Bibirhat cattle market.
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