With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, the sacrificial animal markets of the southern region have begun to liven up. Even before the markets, a huge Sahiwal bull in Kalapara, Patuakhali, has become the talk of the area. The 16-maund bull has been named "Raja Bahadur". Raised like a child for three years, he is being offered for Tk 5 lakh.

Born on the farm of Kamal Gazi in Kumirmara village of Kalapara upazila's Nilganj union, Raja Bahadur has become the centre of local curiosity. People come from far and wide every day just to catch a glimpse of him. Some take photographs, some shoot videos, and some are astonished when they hear the price.

According to the farm, the bull is about seven feet long and close to four and a half feet tall. His build, gait and strength catch everyone's eye, and many locals say they have rarely seen such a big, well-built animal in the area.

Masud Parvez Sagor, a local resident who came to see him, said: "I have seen many cattle in my life, but never one so huge and regal. You can sense a special strength just watching him move. I hope he sells for a very good price at the Eid market."

Farmer Kamal Gazi said Raja Bahadur was born to a Sahiwal cow on his own farm. From calfhood he behaved differently: when let out in the field he would not let other cattle, goats or buffalo near him and kept the whole field to himself. Because of this domineering behaviour the villagers jokingly named him Raja Bahadur, and the name stuck.

"I have raised him with great care for three years, looked after him like my own child," he said. "No harmful hormones or fattening drugs were used. He was raised entirely on natural feed. So far the price offered has reached Tk 4 lakh, but I am hoping for Tk 5 lakh."

Those at the farm say Raja Bahadur is fed wheat, maize, bran, oil cake and fresh green grass every day. Because of his size, special care arrangements have been made: two workers look after him round the clock, he is kept under a fan in the heat and his surroundings are kept clean.

His caretaker Gazi Mostafiz said: "After looking after Raja Bahadur for so long I have grown attached to him. The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is check on him. It hurts to think he will be sold. But all this work was done with the Eid of sacrifice in mind." He added that although the bull is very calm, he does not easily let strangers come near, so he has to be cared for with constant caution.

Upazila livestock officer Dr Maruf Billah Khan said Raja Bahadur had become one of the main attractions of Kalapara's sacrificial animal market this year. No harmful hormones or special drugs were used to increase his weight; he was raised entirely by natural means, which sets a positive example for other farmers.

He said more than 20,000 animals had been prepared for sacrifice in the upazila this year, including 12,000 cattle, a small number of buffalo, and 8,000 goats and sheep.

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