The capital's qurbani cattle markets are coming alive, and sales are rising steadily. Compared with the previous two or three days, sales rose at almost all Dhaka markets on Wednesday, 4 June. A visit that afternoon to the markets at Jatrabari, Shanir Akhra, Donia and Rayerbagh found a good turnout of buyers, many of whom were going home with animals they liked. People at the markets expect sales to pick up further from the night.

As in other years, small and medium cows are most in demand. Sellers said buyer numbers could rise further over the next two days. Besides buyers, many curious visitors were crowding the markets, looking at cattle and listening to the bargaining. In places, the extra visitors caused some crushing.

Qurbani animals began arriving at the capital's markets from various parts of the country after noon last Saturday. Until Monday, over the past three days, there was little trade. People at the markets said cattle and goats were selling well today by comparison, and some buyers said they were happy with prices this time.

At Donia and Jatrabari, cattle and goats were kept under tarpaulin shelters and pandals beyond the designated areas, on both sides of the road and around nearby bazaars. Wholesalers, traders and farmers who had brought cattle from different regions had tied their animals under these shelters. Buyers gathered at the main gates, some heading home with cows and others entering to buy.

Alongside buyers and sellers, crowds of onlookers were also present, and despite repeated warnings from market committees they could not be moved away.

Small and medium cows are selling most. Cows priced from Tk 45,000-50,000 up to Tk 1.5, 2 and 2.5 lakh are being sold, but demand is highest for cows priced around Tk 1 lakh.

Idris Ali of Merajnagar, Kadamtali, bought a medium cow at Donia market for qurbani. Outside the fee collection booth he told Jago News: "The seller asked Tk 1 lakh 70 thousand. I liked the cow, so I offered Tk 1 lakh 25 thousand. Then I raised it, and we settled at Tk 1 lakh 41 thousand."

Hafiz Khan bought a small cow for Tk 75,000. "Prices are more or less within reach. My budget is small, so I bought early," he said.

Wholesalers and buyers said that although animals began arriving on Saturday, there was only scattered trade on Tuesday. Sales rose on Wednesday compared with the day before, though volumes were still relatively low. Wholesalers hope sales will increase on Thursday and Friday.

A farmer who brought cattle from Faridpur told Jago News: "I brought 25 small cows from Bhanga on Tuesday. By Wednesday afternoon I had sold only three: one for Tk 50,000, one for Tk 74,000 and the other for Tk 80,000." He said qurbani sales had not yet started in earnest and might rise from tonight. Small and medium cows were selling more, while large cows were being bargained over but selling less.

Wholesaler Rezwan Mia from Mirpur in Kushtia told Jago News: "I brought 20 cows on Saturday afternoon, including cows under Tk 1 lakh and cows priced at Tk 2-2.5 lakh. By Wednesday afternoon I had sold three: one for Tk 70,000, one for Tk 1 lakh 4 thousand and another for Tk 94,000."

"Cattle prices are not that high this year, but transport costs have risen a lot. We did not face any trouble on the road, though," he said.

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