On hearing that prices at the sacrificial cattle markets were sky-high, trader Majnu brought seven cows from Kapasia in Gazipur to Kajla-Shanir Akhra. Mahbubur Rahman likewise brought four cows from Kanchpur. Neither had sold a single cow. They complained that buyers were offering low prices, so they were holding off and waiting.

Pointing to a black bull among his four, Mahbubur Rahman from Kanchpur told Jago News: "I bought this bull for Tk 1.1 lakh. Now they are offering Tk 70,000." Pointing to two black bulls beside it, he said: "Yesterday a buyer wanted to pay Tk 75,000 each, Tk 1.5 lakh for these two. But I didn't sell, and today the offers are up to Tk 70,000. I came to the market after hearing of high prices and now I feel I am in trouble. My wife is calling from home, telling me to bring the cows back. But I will wait until evening to see if I can sell."

This was the picture at the Kajla and Shanir Akhra sacrificial cattle markets in the capital between 12.30pm and 2pm on Wednesday 27 May.

There is still no shortage of animals at the market, but the price gap between buyers and sellers is enormous. Added to that are the hardships of mud and water and the honking of vehicles, so unease is growing alongside the festive mood.

Majnu, who brought seven bulls, pointed to a large red bull and told Jago News: "I bought this for Tk 1.52 lakh. Here they are offering Tk 1.25 lakh. Yesterday afternoon we were told cattle prices in Dhaka were on fire, especially at the Kajla-Shanir Akhra market, so I brought seven cows here from the local market in Kapasia. It cost Tk 19,000 to bring the cows. Three of us came, and with food and everything, costs are rising. But we are not getting the price we want."

Pointing to another bull, he said its price was Tk 1.59 lakh. "They are offering Tk 15,000 to Tk 25,000 less per cow. Since prices are low, I will wait until evening and then take the cows home rather than sell. These cows are young; they will grow bigger and their price will rise."

Rafiqul Islam, who also came from Kapasia, told Jago News: "I brought four cows to the market, three that I bought and one from my own cowshed. I had no worries about the price of my own cow, so I sold it for Tk 1.25 lakh. But buyers are offering low prices for the other three, so I don't dare sell them."

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