Jashore's "Banglar Boss", which caused a stir at the Gabtoli cattle market and across the country, has been sold. The bull sold for Tk 10 lakh 10 thousand at around 4:30pm on Thursday, its owner Md Asmat Ali Gain confirmed to Jago News by mobile phone.

Earlier in the day, Asmat Ali Gain had sought the Prime Minister's help in selling his two bulls, "Banglar Boss" and "Banglar Samrat". In the end, Banglar Boss was sold.

On Thursday afternoon he told the media: "I am in great trouble with the cattle. I can no longer bear their costs. It is costing Tk 2,000 a day."

Addressing the Prime Minister, he said: "Either take them for the Qurbani yourself, or arrange for my two bulls to be sold. I am a citizen of your country."

Meanwhile, he said he would now sell "Banglar Samrat", for which he had asked Tk 20 lakh, for Tk 12 lakh. "Only two days are left before Eid. If I cannot sell the cattle, I will not be able to pay off my debts," Asmat Ali said.

Every year a few special cattle are the surprise of the Qurbani markets, discussed for their weight, size and price. This year was no exception. A few days ago Banglar Boss and Banglar Samrat arrived at the Gabtoli market.

Initially he asked Tk 80 lakh for the two, setting Banglar Boss's price at Tk 50 lakh. Traders had bid up to Tk 30 lakh. The bulls' weight was described differently at different times, but when measured with a tape yesterday (29 July), Banglar Boss weighed 1,295 kg and Banglar Samrat 977 kg (live weight).

Farmer Asmat Ali Gain is the son of the late Rajab Ali Gain of Hurgati village in Monirampur upazila, Jashore. He has reared cattle for 25 years, previously keeping dairy cows on his farm, Meem Dairy Farm. Last year, as a hobby, he bought improved-breed young bulls and began giving them a balanced diet, proper treatment and regular care.

He said that a few days before last year's Eid-ul-Azha he bought Banglar Boss for Tk 17 lakh from farmer Mukul of High Court Mor in the New Market area of Jashore, and Banglar Samrat for Tk 8 lakh.

The bulls are fed a total of 80 to 95 kg a day, twice a day, of concentrate and liquid feed: oil cake, wheat, maize, gram and chickpea bran, molasses, soaked rice, broken-rice rice, straw, Napier grass and rice bran. Having had training himself, he carries out the bulls' basic health checks and treatment.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.