This Eid, Our Own Cows Are Finally Getting Their Chance
For as long as most of us can remember, the weeks leading up to Eid-ul-Azha have followed the same rhythm — the markets buzzing with the arrival of cattle trucks from across the border.
Year after year, cheaper Indian cows would flood in, often leaving our local farmers struggling to compete and forcing them to accept lower prices.
But this year feels genuinely different.
As one of the most significant religious events in the Muslim calendar, Eid-ul-Azha is a time of sacrifice, reflection, and community.
And this time, the animals making their way to the sacrificial grounds are overwhelmingly raised right here in Bangladesh.
Stricter border enforcement and new regulations in India have dramatically reduced the usual cross-border flow, finally giving our own livestock farmers a rare and much-needed advantage.
The numbers look promising.
The government estimates around 12.3 million cattle and other animals are ready this season, comfortably covering the expected demand of about 10 million.
Prices have gone up noticeably — medium-sized cows in the 3 to 5 maund range are fetching around 30,000 taka per maund, with farmers expecting 10 to 15 thousand taka more per animal compared to last year.
Yet this farmer’s market comes with a catch. In an economy still struggling with high living costs and tight budgets, many buyers are feeling the pinch.
Larger animals are moving slowly as families stretch their money and opt for more affordable medium-sized cattle instead.
While farmers are finally getting better returns, buyers are having to dig deeper into their pockets at a time when every taka counts.
This isn’t just good news for individual farmers. It means more money is staying inside our rural economy instead of flowing out across the border.
Still, the higher prices raise questions about how sustainable this balance is between supporting our producers and keeping the ritual accessible for ordinary families.
This Eid-ul-Azha, the sacrifice carries an extra layer of quiet pride for our farmers — but also a quiet strain for many of those buying.
