Goat sales picked up in Dhaka's Mirpur area on the last day before Eid-ul-Azha. While trading had earlier centred on cattle, crowds of goat buyers grew at the last minute.

With the chance to make a sacrifice at a relatively low cost, many middle- and lower-middle-income families were finally opting for goats. Many well-off families were also buying goats for the sacrifice out of preference.

The scene was observed on Wednesday (27 May) at several markets including Kachukhet, Mirpur 6 and Mirpur 13. Crowds built up along the goat rows from the morning and grew heavier after the afternoon.

Sellers said a large share of those who had been unable to buy a cow over several days, or were undecided about prices, were buying goats at the end.

Rajib Khondoker, a private-sector employee buying a goat at the Mirpur 6 market, said: "Cattle prices have gone beyond our reach. After discussing it with the family we finally decided to buy a goat, as we can make the sacrifice at lower cost." He bought one for Tk 19,000. "I wanted to buy a share in a cow, but a problem at the last minute meant it did not happen," he said.

Another buyer, Rafiqul Islam, said: "I was waiting, thinking prices would fall a little on the last day. Now I see good goats are selling quickly, so I bought one for Tk 55,000. Every year we sacrifice a goat along with a cow."

Sellers were pleased with relatively good prices and were able to sell their goats. Md Rabbi, a trader who brought 17 goats from Kishoreganj to the Mirpur 13 market, had sold 12. "I have only five goats left, and I sold at a good price. At first I thought I would not be able to sell, but the last-minute rush has brought some relief, and I hope to finish by evening," he said.

Russel, a trader who came from Jamalpur to Mirpur 14, said he had brought 15 goats and sold 12 that day. "I sold at fairly good prices and the profit will be good. I will head back to the village after selling the other three," he said.

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