Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals for Muslims, is just a day away. Thousands of traders have brought cattle from districts across the country to temporary markets in the capital. But three days of continuous rain have dimmed their Eid hopes. Much of the markets are covered in mud and water, and fewer buyers are coming, so many traders are passing the time in despair with their cattle unsold.

A visit to the Shahjahanpur and Kamalapur cattle markets on the morning of Wednesday 27 May found mud in some places and water in others because of the rain. Although cattle were tied under temporary sheds of bamboo and tarpaulin, many animals were getting wet. Worry was plain on traders' faces. Some were spreading straw to keep their cattle dry, while others were busy clearing rainwater.

Abdul Jalil, a trader, brought 19 cows from Sherpur to the Kamalapur market. By noon on Wednesday he had sold only three, and he says he sold even those at a loss.

He said that because of the rain he rented a covering sheet for Tk 1,000 from a counter to make a shelter over his head. "They said they would return the money when I returned the sheet. But now, even when I return it, they won't give the money back. Is this sheet worth Tk 1,000, tell me? People have no conscience."

"It has been raining for two days," Abdul Jalil said. "Fewer people are coming to the market, and those who come just look and leave. I have been able to sell only three of 19 cows. Truck fare, food, labour, altogether a lot of money has been spent. If the cows don't sell now, it will be a big loss."

Liton Ahmed, a trader from Natore at the same market, said: "I brought 22 cows and have not been able to sell one. For a cow I bought for Tk 2 lakh, they are offering Tk 1 lakh. How can I sell at such prices?"

Asked why the situation was like this, he said the rain was to blame. The rain has turned the market ground to mud and water, fewer people are coming, and those who do are offering very low prices. "If buyers offer such prices, they won't get the cows."

"Whatever is in our fate will happen now," he said. "It is not possible to sell at a loss of Tk 30,000 to Tk 40,000 per cow. If I can't sell, I will take them back home (to the village). If we sell them at home, the loss will be Tk 5,000 each. We have brought such fine cows. If we can't sell them after this, the failure is not ours, it is the buyers'."

Another trader, Shakil, who brought cattle from Pabna, said: "We are suffering a lot in the rain, standing with the cows in mud and water. I can't sleep at night. I brought 15 cows and have sold 11, at a loss of Tk 15,000 to Tk 20,000 on each. I still have four cows."

Faisal, who brought cattle from Trishal in Mymensingh, said: "The sacrifice market is not good this time. For a cow worth Tk 1.5 lakh, buyers are offering Tk 1 lakh. Eid is tomorrow and so far I have sold only one cow. We are in great difficulty with the cows. If it rains at night, you can't sleep. If the cows get wet, there is a fear they will fall ill."

Md. Milon, a trader from Chuadanga who arrived at the market around midnight with 15 cows, said: "I have not been able to sell a single one yet. It rained heavily in the morning, which is why buyers couldn't come. Now we rely on Allah; let's see what happens."

Shaheen Molla, another trader from Chuadanga, said: "Because of the rain this time, all traders are in trouble. We have to sell cattle at a loss. Buyers think we are asking too much, but the reality is that our buying cost was high. Traders are not able to make a profit bringing cattle to Dhaka this time."

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