KHULNA, June 14: The Livestock departments in Khulna Division has set up a total of 157 traditional and makeshift cattle markets in all ten districts of the division to sell the sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Meanwhile, Beparis (cattle traders) started to bring sacrificial animals to the cattle markets from their farms as four days are left to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, the second-largest religious festival of the Muslims.
According to sources at the Livestock Department, all district Livestock departments in association with the district administrations have set up the cattle markets as four days are left to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha.
Of the 157 traditional and makeshift cattle markets, at least 22 including KCCs Zoragate cattle market have been set up in Khulna while 27 in Bagerhat, 15 in Satkhira, 21 in Jashore, 22 in Jhenaidah, 18 in Magura, 6 in Narail, 16 in Kushtia and 10 in Chuadanga and Meherpur.
While talking with The Daily Observer, the Director of Khulna Divisional Livestock Department Dr Nurullah Md Ahsan said, the cattle markets have been set up at all 60 upazilas in 10 districts and Khulna City Corporation (KCC). A total of 136 medical teams have already been formed for the cattle markets.
"The demand for sacrificial animals in the division can be met almost entirely with locally-reared livestock," he said.
Besides, Khulna City Corporation (KCC) will manage and monitor the Zoragate cattle market by installing CCTV cameras, setting up the medical team and fake note identifier under the supervision and management of Bangladesh Bank, said Sanjida Begum, chief executive officer of KCC.
While talking to the Observer, Ibrahim Mia, a cattle farm owner in Bagmara village under Rupsha Upazila said, the price of cattle feed has been increased several times. As a result, cattle prices will be higher than that of last year.
According to DoLS sources, a total of 16,19,417 sacrificial animals have been reared locally against the demand of 11, 06,532 which is a surplus of 5,12,885 in 10 districts.
The sacrificial animals include cow 5,62,344, buffalo 6,654, goat 10,00,047, sheep 49,525, and others 847.
A good number of the cattle have been reared in 1,38,054 farms in 10 districts, and many people also reared cattle in their homesteads.
