Md Malu Islam, a trader from Sona Masjid in Chapainawabganj, arrived at the Gabtoli cattle market four days ago with four large cattle. Each will yield more than 42 maunds of meat, he says, and he has asked Tk 15 lakh. Buyers have not offered anything close, so he has not sold, and he is worried. "Nobody is taking the big cattle. The prices they offer are not worth saying out loud," he said in his local dialect.

A visit to the Gabtoli market in the capital on Friday, 8 July, showed that prices of big cattle have suddenly fallen. Small cattle are selling at comparatively good prices, but no one is offering much for the big ones.

Asma Begum has come from Gangni in Meherpur with a bull named "Raja". She says the three-and-a-half-year-old animal will yield 30 maunds of meat, and it is being offered at Tk 15 lakh. No buyer has yet made a satisfactory offer. Having brought the animal so far at such expense, she is in a bind: the truck alone cost Tk 14,000, on top of four days of other expenses. It has reached the point where selling it would be a relief. She now wants to sell Raja and go home for Tk 7 lakh, but no buyer is coming forward. "Instead of Tk 14 lakh, I'm asking 7 lakh. Still no customer," Asma Begum said.

Nasir Uddin, a trader from Singair in Manikganj, has brought four big cattle to Gabtoli. After several days not one has sold. "Dhaka people won't sacrifice a cow at the price of meat. They want to sacrifice a cow at the price of potatoes," he said ruefully.

Meanwhile, with just one day left before Eid, both the number of buyers and sales have risen at Gabtoli, the capital's only permanent cattle market. But the price of big cattle has suddenly dropped.

Hossain, a trader, has brought 10 big cattle from Chapainawabganj. Four days ago each was offered at Tk 9 lakh; now there are no buyers even at Tk 7 lakh. "Nobody is taking the big cattle. They won't even quote a price. For a Tk 9 lakh cow they are offering Tk 2.7 lakh," he said.

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