Locally-raised cattle are reigning in the capital's makeshift cattle markets as huge numbers of sacrificial animals have already gathered from various districts across the country, reports UNB.
There are huge number of locally-reared cattle in Bangladesh to meet the massive local demand for sacrificial animals during Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of Muslims, this year.
Visiting different cattle markets, this correspondent found that people from different districts have already reached the city with their sacrificial animals, and most of the cattle are locally reared ones.
The open space of ShanirAkhra-Daniya playground which is now an important cattle haat (market) in the city is full of sacrificial animals. Some cattle are found beside the road due to lack of space in the main site of the market violating the lease terms.
The traders said many of them have arrived in the capital in the last few days from various districts to sell their sacrificial animals here.
Shahabuddin is one of the cattle farmers who reached the city from Tetulia upazila of Panchagarh district to sell his sacrificial animals.
After travelling a long paath, he brought 12 sacrificial animals. He said his cattle were medium in size and the expected price would range from Tk 80,000 to Tk 1,20,000.
Mosharraf Hossain, leaseholder of the cattle market, said, "Presence of buyers and sellers would increase further in three-four days before the Eid."
The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) said that 5,77,416 commercial farms and farmers have around 1,17,88,563 sacrificial animals ready to meet the demand for 1,10,00,000.
A few cattle from India, Myanmar and Nepal were available in that market. According to UNB correspondents from bordering districts, the cattle inflow from India, both legally and illegally, has dropped significantly this year.
The reporter also found that though huge cattle are being brought into the cattle markets, the number of buyers were comparatively few till now.
The lease-holders of the cattle haat informed that people are coming in the market to see the price situation of the animals. Some people have purchased various sacrificial animals so far.
Buyers complained that traders are charging high price for each animal compared to that in the last few years.
Shamim Ahmed, a buyer who came to observe the market, said: "Prices of the sacrificial animals are quite high this year."
On the other hand, the sellers claimed that they had to spend a large amount of money for the fodder and also had to spend much as transportation cost for bringing the cattle in the capital.
"We had no option to ask for the high price of the sacrificial animals due to the overall situation," said the sellers.
Visiting the cattle market of Chairman Bari intersection at Kamrangirchar, Gopibagh Balur Math and open spaces adjacent to Kamalapur Stadium and Dhupkhola playground, this correspondent found a huge number of cattle.
"There is a big collection of locally-raised cattle compared to the previous years as indigenous farmers are getting benefitted selling the locally-reared variety of cattle for the past few years", informed the lease-holders.
Some 25 makeshift cattle markets were set up in the city under Dhaka North and South City Corporations (DNCC and DSCC), 22 more from last year.
The DSCC is hosting 14 cattle markets, while the DNCC is accommodating the other 11. Apart from the makeshift cattle markets, the permanent cattle market at Gabtoli is also busy doing the business.
The cattle markets under the DSCC will be located at Meradia Bazar Playground, open spaces of Dhupkhola playground, No. 41 Kawartek playground, open spaces of Amulia Model Town, Aftabnagar Eastern Housing Dawkandi Endulia, Maitree Shangho playground, Shyampur Balur Math, No. 32 Shamsabad playground, Hazaribagh field at Zigatola, Lalbagh Rahmatganj playground, Chairman Bari intersection at Kamrangirchar, Gopibagh Balur Math and open spaces adjacent to Kamalapur Stadium and open space of ShanirAkhra-Daniya playground.
The cattle markets under the DNCC are : Open spaces at Kawla-Shialdanga, Uttara-10 Sluice gate to Kamarpara Bridge, open spaces on north side of Mirpur DOHS, open spaces of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, open spaces of Shahidnagar Housing in Uttarkhan, Badda Eastern Housing (Aftabnagar), open space of Eastern Housing at Mirpur- 6, Khilkhet Banorupa Residential Project, open spaces near the bridge No 1 and 2 at Uttara Sector 15, Bhatara (Sayed Nagar), Mohammadpur Intellectual Road adjacent open spaces, and open spaces of both side of the 300 Feet road of Khilkhet.
DSCC authority informed that if a leaseholder violates the condition, action will be taken against them as specific date for preparing the cattle market and selling was included in the terms and conditions.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Mohammad Sayed Khokon said mobile court will be conducted against those who do not obey the lease terms.
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