The Sholakia cattle market in Kishoreganj is bustling with last-minute trading. Buying and selling has been brisk since morning at the district's biggest Qurbani market. Sellers are pleased that sales have picked up just before Eid, and buyers are pleased that prices are within reach.

By noon on Friday, 8 July, the ground set aside for the market was full. Sellers then spread out along half a kilometre of road in front of the Sholakia Eidgah, along both sides of the road as far as the Puran Thana railway line, and on the neighbouring Azim Uddin High School ground. Sellers from farms across the district brought cattle and buffaloes of all colours and sizes.

Small and medium cattle are selling most at Sholakia, and at considerably higher prices, while big cattle are much cheaper. Buyers and sellers both said prices are affordable.

Md Abdul Gani, a farmer from Karimganj upazila, said: "Small cattle are fetching good prices, but big cattle are going for much less. With big cattle cheap this year, we will have to face a loss."

Shafiqul Alam Shiplu, a well-known businessman in the town, bought a huge black bull at Sholakia for Tk 6 lakh.

"For its size and weight I was able to buy my Qurbani animal for comparatively little money. I'm very happy," he said.

The Sholakia cattle market opened on Thursday, 7 July, for three days and will run until Saturday, 9 July.

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