Dhaka's sacrificial animal markets had begun to liven up from the morning ahead of Eid. The Shahjahanpur and Kamalapur markets were busy with buyers, lowing cattle and the noise of bargaining.

Before midday, though, the scene changed. When a sudden heavy downpour began at around 12 noon, trouble spread across the markets. Most areas turned to mud and water, leaving traders who had brought animals in difficulty.

On Tuesday (26 May), visits to the Shahjahanpur and Kamalapur markets showed notable crowds of buyers from the morning, many of them families who had come to look at cattle. After the heavy midday rain, a large share of buyers quickly left. Walking inside the markets became difficult, water collected in places, and traders standing with their cattle suffered badly.

Abdul Malek, a trader from Kushtia at the Shahjahanpur market, told Jagonews: "I hoped for good sales from the morning. A few buyers were looking at cattle and bargaining. But once the rain started they all left. Now just handling the cattle has become hard." He said he had brought 22 cattle to Dhaka on three trucks. Transport, feed and labour costs had risen a lot this year, and now, with the cattle soaked by rain, there was a risk they would fall ill.

Saidul Islam, a trader from Pabna at the same market, said: "With water collecting in the market, it is hard to stand with the cattle. The straw is wet and I cannot even get the cattle to sit down properly. Buyers have dropped off too." He complained that the market lacked adequate drainage, so that even a little rain turned it to mud and water, and buyers naturally did not want to stay long.

Md Asadul Islam, a trader at Shahjahanpur, said: "Sales were good in the morning and buyers were coming. But the rain ruined everything. If it keeps raining like this, selling cattle will be hard. It rained yesterday too, and twice since this morning. We are in real trouble having brought the cattle here." He said many animals were covered in dirt from the rain, spoiling their looks, and cattle that get too wet may fall ill.

The Kamalapur market showed the same picture. During the rain many traders put up tarpaulins to protect their cattle; some got soaked themselves trying to keep the animals dry.

Md Mintu Mia, a trader from Sirajganj at Kamalapur, said: "It cost a lot to bring each animal this time. If sales do not happen now, we will suffer a big loss. Because of the rain there have been no buyers since midday." He said transport costs were several thousand taka higher than last year, so a good price was essential to cover them, but the weather was dimming that hope.

Another Kamalapur trader, Zakir Hossain, said: "When cattle get wet they often catch cold and then eat less. I raised these cattle with so much effort, and now all I can think about is whether they will fall ill." He said buyers took shelter under covers during the rain, but most traders had to stay in the open, adding to their hardship.

Nur Islam, a trader from Chuadanga at the same market, said: "After midday the whole market turned to mud with rainwater, so buyers do not want to come near the cattle. Only one day is left before Eid. If it rains like this now, we are in serious trouble."

Some buyers were still seen walking around the markets in the rain. Many said they could not look at cattle comfortably, and moving around with their families had become difficult in the mud and water.

People involved with the markets said crowds usually build up in Dhaka's markets in the afternoon and evening before Eid, but the rain could change that picture on Tuesday. Traders voiced concern that sales could slow.

The rain also caused misery at Dhaka's Kachukhet market. Buyers and traders suffered badly in the downpour, and water collected on the roads. After the rain, traders and farmers were seen wiping the water off their cattle.

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