The sale of sacrificial animals on the occasion of upcoming Eid-ul-Azha in the city’s 19 temporary cattle markets and one permanent cattle market at Gabtoli picked up some momentum Friday as a significant number of buyers thronged these markets on the day.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has set up 10 makeshift cattle markets while the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) 9.
Cattle traders have already from different parts of the country reached Dhaka with sacrificial animals.
Every year, traders bring cattle heads to the capital mainly from Kushtia, Meherpur, Sirajganj, Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Bogra, Jhenidah and Faridpur before Eid-ul-Azha.
During a visit on Friday to different cattle markets of the capital, traders were seen keeping their animals inside and on the sidewalks of the market and haggling over the prices.
A medium sized cow was being sold between Tk 35000 and Tk 40000 while big sized ones between Tk 70,000 and Tk 120,000.
“I have come to know the prices of cow. There are sufficient cows in the market. But the sellers are demanding high prices,” Abdul Matin, a private service holder told the FE at Kamalapur cattle market Friday afternoon.
Cattle traders said they had to pay extortion at different points while coming to the city.
Md Selim, who came from Kushtia to Nayabazaar cattle market with 25 cattle heads told the FE that he had to pay extortion at several points on the way to the market.
Management of Kamalapur, Nayabazar, Baridhara J Block, Banani-Kakoli said they had been maintaining security for the cattle traders and the customers. Police have been deployed at different cattle markets to maintain the law and order.
The DSCC set up cattle markets at Rahmatganj playground, Lalbagh, Meradia Bazar playground, Khilgaon, Sadek Hossain Khoka ground, City Corporation School ground, Golapbagh, North Shajahanpur Maitri Sangha Field, Dhupkhola Club Field and Balur Math adjacent to Brothers Union Field.
The venues selected by DNCC are Banani-Kakoli, Eastern Housing Playground, Mirpur, Dhaka Polytechnic Institute Playground, Taltola Playground, Azampur Government Primary School Ground, Banarupa-Khilkhet, Baridhara Block-6, Uttara Sector-11and Agargaon Slum Playground.
“We would not allow setting up cattle markets on roads and action would be taken against the rule violators,” a designated official of DSCC told the FE. He said the market will remain open till Eid day.
