A thick chain around its neck, a massive body and a placard reading 'Commissioner' hanging in front: with its unusual name and size, this bull has caught the eye of buyers and visitors at the sacrificial animal market on the Circuit House ground next to Zainul Abedin Park in Mymensingh city.

At midday on Tuesday (26 May), buyers and onlookers crowded around the huge black bull. Some took photographs, while others pressed the farmer to learn the price.

The bull belongs to Md Jewel, a resident of Bhatikashar in the city. His farm is at Uchakhila in the district's Ishwarganj upazila, where he raises another 15 to 20 cattle.

Jewel said he brought three bulls to the market this year. Two, named 'Motu' and 'Chomchom', have already sold for Tk 4.5 lakh each. He is asking Tk 6.8 lakh for 'Commissioner' but will sell for Tk 5.5 lakh.

Asked about the unusual name, the farmer said: "The bull is a bit lazy by nature. Apart from eating, it spends most of its time lying or sitting around. So I named it Commissioner as a joke."

He said he raised the bull for three years on wheat bran and grass, and used no harmful drugs, injections or special feed to fatten it. "So far the highest offer for Commissioner is Tk 4.5 lakh. I will sell it at Tk 5.5 lakh," he said.

According to the district livestock office, Mymensingh's 13 upazilas have 2,04,148 animals ready for sacrifice this Eid against a demand of 1,81,266, leaving a surplus.

Cattle make up the largest share, with 1,15,947 cows ready for sacrifice, along with 1,03,966 goats, 5,344 sheep and 886 buffaloes.

District Livestock Officer Mohammad Wahedul Alam said Eid always brings big challenges and field staff were working tirelessly. Fifty-six veterinary medical teams have been formed for the district to work at the markets. "With enough sacrificial animals in the country, we are also vigilant that no animals enter illegally from outside. We want farmers to get a fair price," he said.

Police are also working to keep vehicles carrying sacrificial animals safe and maintain law and order at the markets. Md Abdullah Al Mamun, Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) in Mymensingh, said: "We are working so that vehicles carrying sacrificial animals are not held up anywhere or harassed. Surveillance has also been stepped up with plain-clothes as well as uniformed police to stop fake notes and criminal gangs."

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