Rafiqul Islam of Mirpur, Kushtia, brought three large cattle he raised himself to Gabtoli cattle haat two days ago. Each will yield 25 to 30 maunds of meat, and he is asking Tk 18 lakh apiece. But no one is making an offer, and having spent heavily to bring the cattle to the haat, he is deeply worried.

"No one is taking big cattle!" he told Jago News. "Nobody even names a price. For goods worth Tk 9 they offer Tk 6. They won't even offer the butcher's price."

A visit to Gabtoli haat on Sunday, 25 June, found no buyers for big cattle. Traders stood with large animals right at the entrance to the haat, hoping for buyers, but none came.

Awlad Hossain brought four large cattle from Keraniganj. He is asking Tk 12 lakh to Tk 16 lakh for animals that will yield 18 to 30 maunds of meat, but has found no buyers. "I have committed a big sin by bringing big cattle to the haat," he said. "No one even names a price. It seems people have no money in their pockets."

Only three days remain until Eid-ul-Azha. Buyer numbers at the haat have risen at the last minute, but at the permanent Gabtoli haat there are more people looking than buying. Sales are expected to pick up in the last two days.

'Nawab' has come to Gabtoli haat from Chitalmari in Bagerhat, brought by Ronjon Bepari of Bagerhat. The bull is 8 feet long, 5 feet tall and weighs 30 maunds. The name 'Chitalmari's Nawab' was given to the well-built black-and-white bull only for the sale. Nawab is very calm, with no temper, and does not charge at anyone.

"My Nawab will weigh 30 maunds," Ronjon Bepari said. "I raised him with my own hands for two and a half years, from when he was small. I am asking Tk 14 lakh, but offers are only Tk 7 lakh to Tk 8 lakh. There are no buyers for big cattle. One person made that offer and left."

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