Cattle Markets in Capital
Sales rise, prices drop
A market for sacrificial animals in the capital's Armanitola abuzz with cattle traders and prospective buyers yesterday ahead of Eid-ul Azha.Photo: STAR
With two days to go before Eid-ul Azha, the sale of sacrificial animals soared in all 20 cattle markets across the capital, including the permanent one at Gabtoli, yesterday. Though there were crowds of buyers, cattle prices dropped due to increased supply, with many traders fearing loss this year. Several traders have sold their bulls at nominal profits or even swallowing some loss. Many others were waiting with the hope to make a better margin in last moment sale. "I have sold one of my 13 bulls at Tk 82,000 though I bought it for Tk 85,000," said Dulal, a trader at Kamalapur Balurmath cattle market. A trader from Shariyatpur, Mohammad Shajahan, brought six big bulls to Kamalapur cattle market. He said prices of big bulls were low as people showed little interest in them. Shahjahan said he would have to face a Tk 40,000 to Tk 50,000 loss from each bull if he sold his six bulls at prices customers were offering. "I will wait till the last day of eid as I do not want to face that much of a loss," he said. Prices of his bulls range from Tk 2 lakh to Tk 3 lakh. Abu Taleb, a trader from Meherpur, is rather optimistic though he brought 13 bulls in Kama-lapur market Monday and could sell none till yesterday afternoon. "I am not frustrated like others as I know Dhaka city people come to cattle markets just before the eid day due to scarcity of place to keep their sacrificial animals," he said. Meanwhile, most of the buyers seemed a little bit happy as they think that cattle prices have fallen down to a reasonable level. "I have bought two middle sized bulls for Tk 70,000 which would take at least Tk 80,000 last year," said Saifuzzaman, a resident of Narinda. INFORMAL MARKETSAs in the last year, some people were selling cattle near their home, business places or on streets which are not formally declared cattle markets. The initiatives were seen in Gendaria, Paschim Dholaipar, Dholaikhal and Pagla in Narayanganj. 'EXTORTION BY POLICE'
A number of cattle traders complained that some patrol police of Dhaka city demanded money from them on their way to cattle markets. "My truck was waiting for some time at Culver Road in Fakirapool on Wednesday morning where police from a patrol van suddenly came and took Tk 2,000," said Rohidul Islam, a cattle trader of Naogaon, who brought 20 bulls to Kamalapur market.
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