Staff Reporter :
As Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival for Muslims, approaches, Dhaka’s cattle markets are drawing crowds of enthusiastic visitors, yet sales have not yet reached their peak with just one week remaining until the festivities.
This year, prices for sacrificial animals are notably higher due to increased costs of cattle feed and other rearing expenses.
Farmers are expressing concerns over potential losses if cattle enter the country through the borders, potentially leading to a drop in market prices.
In anticipation of Eid-ul-Azha, Dhaka’s two city corporations have finalized the lease of 16 temporary cattle markets across the capital.
Farmers and traders from various districts have begun bringing their livestock to these markets.
However, buying and selling activities have yet to gain momentum, with many people currently visiting the markets to browse and negotiate prices.
Of the 16 temporary cattle markets, six are situated in areas under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), while the remaining 10 are set up in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) areas.
Additionally, DNCC’s Gabtoli and DSCC’s Sarulia each host two permanent cattle markets where cattle, buffalo, and goats are regularly sold. However, trading specifically for Qurbani has not commenced in these permanent markets.
With Eid-ul-Azha scheduled for June 17 this year, vendors at both the permanent and temporary cattle markets in Dhaka anticipate that livestock trading will pick up momentum two to three days before Eid.
Currently, most visitors are merely exploring the markets and inspecting the available animals.
This year, DNCC and DSCC called for tenders to lease a total of 20 markets. DNCC planned to set up nine markets, including the permanent Gabtoli market, while DSCC aimed for 11 markets, including the permanent Sarulia market.
However, due to various reasons, including High Court directives, the number of temporary markets has slightly decreased.
Among these, the auction for the market in Aftabnagar has been halted following instructions from the High Court, despite both city corporations calling for tenders.
According to livestock officials, there is no shortage of sacrificial animals for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, with over 12.9 million animals ready for the festival.
The estimated demand for livestock this year is set at 10.7 million, leaving a surplus of approximately 2.28 million animals.
“We have no shortage of livestock to meet the demand for the upcoming Eid as the country has 2.28 million additional animals after fulfilling the Qurbani demand,” said Dr. ABM Khaleduzzaman, Director (Production) of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS).