Eid-ul-Azha: Chittagong, Khulna cattle markets gain momentum

Sacrificial animals from across the country have started pouring into the cattle markets in Chittagong and Khulna ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

In Chittagong, authorities have taken tight security measures through engaging members of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar in and outside of the cattle markets as well as city entry points to ensure safety for traders and cattle.

Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Krishna Pada Roy at a meeting recently said that the cattle markets in the port city will be strictly monitored using cameras and drones.

Fake note detection devices will be available in every cattle market to detect the counterfeit notes, he said.

Talking to BSS, a number of cattle traders have expressed satisfaction over the security steps taken ahead of Eid by the authorities to make their ways safe.

Nur Alam from Rajshahi at city's Bibirhat Bazar and Sayed Alam Bepary hailed from Teknaf in Cox's Bazar at Sagarika Bazar said they did not pay any extortion on their way to the market or at market venue till Wednesday.

While visiting a number of traditional, makeshift cattle markets and a few mini markets in the port city, it was observed that the cattle heads started reaching in good numbers and the selling and buying got momentum.

Traders and market sources expect that prices of sacrificial animals would be a little bit high this year compared to the previous years.

Abdul Alam at Bibirhat Bazar who came from Kushtia district told BSS that he brought 21 large cows to Chittagong market for sale but he did not have pay any toll.

There are eight cattle markets including six temporary ones under the supervision of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC).

Selling and buying of sacrificial animals have already gained momentum at the temporary markets from Sunday and will continue till midnight of 16 June.

Kabir Hossain, acting Superintendent of Chittagong district police also said they have taken adequate security measures to curb the crimes in and around the cattle markets.

Nearly 150 RAB personnel have been deployed in the different cattle markets, strategic points in the city as well as highways for safety and security of the traders as well as buyers, RAB, sources said.

In Khulna, the livestock department has set up a total of 157 traditional and makeshift cattle market in all ten districts of the division to sell the sacrificial animals ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha.

Cattle traders already started to bring sacrificial animals to the markets from their farms as four days have left to celebrate the Eid.

All district Livestock departments in association with the district administrations have set up the cattle markets which will run till morning on Eid day.

Of the 157 traditional and makeshift cattle markets, at least 22 including Zoragate cattle market have been set up in Khulna while 27 in Bagerhat, 15 in Satkhira, 21 in Jessore, 22 in Jhenaidah, 18 in Magura, 6 in Narail, 16 in Kushtia and 10 in Chuadanga and Meherpur each.

Talking to BSS, Director of Khulna Divisional Livestock Department Dr Nurullah Md Ahsan said the cattle markets have been set up at all 60 upazilas in 10 districts and Khulna City Corporation (KCC).

A total of 136 medical teams have already been formed to provide service to the people coming to the cattle markets.

"The demand for sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha could be met with almost locally-reared livestock," Nurullah said.

While talking to BSS, Ibrahim Mia, a cattle farm owner in Bagmara village under Rupsha upazila said the price of cattle feed has increased several times.

As a result, the cattle prices will be higher than last year, he said.

Sources said a total of 1,619,417 sacrificial animals have been reared locally against the demand of 1,106,532 which is a surplus of 512,885 in 10 districts.

The sacrificial animals include cows of 562,344, buffaloes of 6,654, goats of 1,000,047, sheep of 49,525, and others 847.

Source: BSS