Only nine days remain before Eid-ul-Azha, but Natore's Tebaria market, the largest cattle market in the northern region, has yet to pick up. Few animals were brought in on Sunday (18 June) either. Buyers and sellers complain that tolls are being collected at will, above the government rate.

At the market, sellers had brought cows, goats, sheep and buffaloes, but few animals had come in and sales were slow. Buyers say prices are high, while sellers say the prices buyers offer will not cover their costs.

Md Sharif brought five cattle to the market but could not sell a single one. Buyers are offering Tk 80,000 to 90,000, but he said he could not have bought them at that price himself.

Beside him, a man named Rois said he had fattened several cattle at home for the Eid. Given what he spent on rearing them, he would lose money at the prices buyers are offering.

At the goat market, some goats were selling for Tk 15,000 to 16,000 and some for less, but not a single large goat had been sold.

Goat trader Anisul Islam said he had bought several goats for Tk 20,000 to 27,000 each and brought them to market, on top of transport costs. He would lose money at the prices buyers are offering.

Buyer Mirza Anas told Jagonews24: "Prices seem a bit high for the size of the cattle, so I will look at a few more markets."

Buyers and sellers also complain that more is being taken as toll than the government has set. Instead of Tk 600 from the buyer and Tk 100 from the seller, tolls are being collected at will.

The buyer of a small cow bought for Tk 62,000 said he had to pay Tk 1,000 in toll and the seller Tk 200, which is far too much.

Other cattle and goat traders made the same complaint, saying nearly double is being taken in toll and they are losing out.

The market's lessee, Mohammad Tipu, said the complaint of overcharging is not true, and they are taking Tk 800 per cow in toll.

Natore additional superintendent of police Sharmin Sultana said police have been deployed for security at the market, machines have been arranged to detect counterfeit notes, and treatment is available if any animal falls ill.

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