Trade in sacrificial animals has begun to pick up in the border district of Sherpur ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, with buyers going round markets, farms and households to buy animals. But local farmers are worried they will suffer losses if Indian cattle come in across the border.

District police say police, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and other law enforcement agencies are working jointly at the border to stop Indian cattle.

Farmers at the Nauhata municipal cattle and buffalo market, the Abdus Samad cattle market, the Nalitabari bypass market and the Jhenaigati Sadar Bazar market said they had raised cattle all year hoping for good prices. But prices this year are lower than usual, and if Indian cattle get in, they will face outright losses.

Farmers said the prices of rice polish, khesari, paddy, maize and bran-mixed concentrate feed are all high. Fresh grass is hard to find in Sherpur and straw is expensive. On top of that, labour, electricity bills, veterinary costs and other expenses have all risen, making a profit difficult this year.

At the Jhenaigati Sadar market, farmer Abdul Kader Mia from Kangsha said: "Everything costs more this time. Bran is Tk 65 a kg, a sack of rice polish Tk 1,500, a bundle of straw Tk 7.50 to Tk 8. Then there is labour. And buyers at the market are quoting completely unreasonable prices."

Farmer Hossain Mia, at the Nalitabari bypass market, said: "From food to clothing, the price of everything has gone up. Nobody objects to that; the only objection is when we ask a fair price for cattle. We will not make a profit this time, and if Indian cattle come it will be a disaster. Farmers will suffer huge losses. So we request the government not to let cattle from across the border come in under any circumstances."

Dr Rezuanul Haque Bhuiyan, head of the district livestock department, said 20 permanent markets are being held in the district this year, with a medical team working at each. The district needs 62,000 sacrificial animals and has a supply of about 93,000.

Additional Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan told Jago News that district police and other law enforcers are coordinating with the BGB to stop cattle and other smuggling at the border, and are determined to keep cattle smuggling at zero.

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