Farmers, traders and householders brought animals from across the country to the capital's markets for Qurbani, hoping for a bit more profit. Sales were slow over the past few days, but now they are pinning their hopes on the last minute.

Having not got the prices they wanted so far, and in some cases selling at a loss, sellers believe they will see a glimmer of hope today or tonight. They say the number of animals at the markets is falling, and those who stay until the very end will see a little profit.

Al Amin, who came from Kushtia, has been at Gabtoli, the capital's largest permanent cattle market, for seven days. He brought 22 cattle and has sold 10 in seven days. "Across those 10, profit and loss are about even," he told Jago News. Answering a question by phone, he added: "I will stay until the end with the 12 cattle. There are few cattle at Gabtoli now; a lot sold in the last two days. I will wait all day and night today (Friday) and all day on Eid day (Saturday) too."

A trader named Islam brought 13 bulls from Chuadanga to a temporary market set up on the streets of Hazaribagh in the capital. He said he has been at the market for five days. Five had sold by Thursday, at a small profit, and he is now relying on the remaining eight.

Asked a question, he said: "Beef costs Tk 550 a kg in the village too. If I can't sell the cattle here, I'll take them home. It's not as if I've fallen into the water. I'm still hopeful. There's a whole day and a night ahead."

Ramzan Bepari has come from Ishwardi in Pabna to the capital's Aftab Nagar market with 18 bulls, asking over Tk 2 lakh for each. Speaking early on Friday, he said he is still optimistic the bulls will sell at the price he wants.

He told Jago News: "Business has a relationship with profit and loss. We are going through a hard time now. Even so, we hired a truck from Pabna and came to the market. If I can sell at a profit I will; if not, I'll take the bulls back, rear them for another year and sell them next year."

"Many people come, like them and offer good prices. But some offer prices as if we were desperate. Even a butcher would pay me more than that. I can afford to rear them until next year, so what is there to fear?"

Rahman Bepari has come from Shahjadpur in Sirajganj to the Kamalapur cattle market. "Amid the coronavirus situation, I took the risk of going from house to house buying these animals. I brought nine bulls; four have sold and five remain. There are few animals at the market now and not many are coming in, so I still have hope that my luck may turn in the end," he said. He too is willing to wait in hope until Eid day.

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