With only five days remaining for Eid-ul-Azha, sales of sacrificial animals at Chuadanga cattle markets are yet to gain momentum.
Buyers, traders and middlemen from different parts of the country and neighboring districts are thronging different cattle markets of the town and upazilas but the sellers are yet to see expected number of buyers.
The three largest makeshift markets of sacrificial animals in the district are Shialmari cattle market in Jibonnagar upazila, Dugdugi of Damurhuda upazila and Alamdanga cattle market.
During a recent visit the UNB correspondent found huge crowd at Shialmari cattle market that triggered traffic jam on the Jibonnagar-Chuadanga regional highway in front of the market. Some policemen were seen working to reduce traffic congestion.
Md Chanchal, who is in-charge of hat management, said people are being continuously asked to comply with hygiene rules to prevent spread of Covid but most of them are ignoring the instruction.
Shafiqul Islam, a trader of Kanchantala village in Jhenaidah district said, “I have come to sell a cow in the market. I’ve fixed the price at 1.50 lakh. People are seeing my cow and asking the price.”
“I will sell my cow at Tk 1.20 lakh if the price is offered. Our labour will go in vain if we don’t get a reasonable price by selling the cattle,” he added.
After visiting Shialmari haat on Thursday, the correspondent found that most of the buyers were complaining that the prices of cows are much higher this year.
Md Kashem, a buyer from Chuadanga Sadar Upazila, said the price of cows is much higher this time and so we are struggling to buy cows as it is not within my budget.”
Meanwhile, the price of goats is lower this year compared to last Eid-ul-Azha, said cattle trader Akkas Ali. “The demand for small goats is higher than big ones in the market. For this reason, the price of small goats is now relatively high.”
Jony Shah, the lessee of Dugdugi cattle market, said this time the sales are a little bit low. “Even then cattle worth Tk 3 to 4 crore have been sold. I hope the sales will increase.”
Five teams of Jibonnnagar police are working for the security of this makeshift cattle market, said Md Abdul Khalek, officer-in-charge (OC) of Jibonnnagar police station.
Jibonnnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ariful Islam said machines have been set up to detect counterfeit notes at the cattle market.
Besides, members of the law enforcement agencies are working to ensure that no buyer and seller is harassed or cheated.
Besides, measures are being taken to prevent the entry of Indian cattle into the market.
