With just two days left until Eid-ul-Azha, the sacrificial animal market at Shahjahanpur in the capital has got busy. It has cattle of all sizes, from big to small, but demand is highest for medium cattle, and buyers and sellers have mixed reactions over prices.

On Friday the market was seen set up on open ground around the Maitri Sangha Club next to the Khilgaon rail gate bazar in North Shahjahanpur, with traders bringing sacrificial animals from different parts of the country.

Cattle traders said sales began two days ago but had not really picked up. From this afternoon, however, more buyers are coming, and they expect more sales over these two days.

Selim, a trader who brought 16 cattle from Rajshahi, told Jago News: "Five cattle have sold from yesterday to today. The market was cold yesterday, but today the crowd of customers is growing. The most expensive cattle in this market are priced at Tk 2 lakh."

Monirul Islam, who brought cattle from Sirajganj, said cattle under Tk 2 lakh are most in demand. "I have sold eight cattle, all priced between Tk 1,20,000 and Tk 1,80,000. But people want cattle for Tk 80,000 to Tk 1 lakh," he said. "To us the prices seem normal, but buyers say we are charging too much."

Buyers say small to medium cattle cannot be found for under Tk 1.5 lakh this year. There are enough animals at the market, but prices are not coming down.

Sakif Hasan, who came from Rampura to buy a bull, told Jago News: "I came with a target of Tk 1.5 lakh. We will sacrifice with two shares. But prices are not coming down. Traders are asking Tk 30,000-50,000 more per animal."

Another buyer, Sadek Hossain, said prices have made sacrifice in Dhaka difficult. He does not know many people here, so he came with one relative — three people in all — hoping to get a bull for under Tk 1 lakh.

A goat market has been set up on the right as you enter via Amtala mosque in Shahjahanpur, with goats from various parts of the country priced from Tk 10,000 to Tk 35,000.

Kamrul Hasan, who brought goats from Mymensingh, said: "I have sold two goats and have 15 left. We raised them ourselves. I hope they will sell by tomorrow."

Sheep seller Shahidul Islam said sheep prices are low. He is selling pairs of comparatively small sheep for Tk 17,000-20,000, and single sheep for Tk 8,000-10,000.

There are 18 hasil (market fee) booths at different points in the market. Hasib, in charge of collecting money at one booth, said the hasil on about 180 cattle had been collected there since the morning. The hasil is 5 per cent of the animal's price.

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