NATORE, Jan 6: About three lakh swan's eggs are being sold weekly at Balua-Basua Haat in Singra Upazila of the district.
These eggs are sent to 63 districts including Bogura, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Dhaka, Tangail, Sirajgang and Pabna.
Locals and livestock office sources said, the haat was established in 2004 at the initiative of one Abdul Wahab, a dweller of this area, at the beginning point of the Chalanbeel Road at Ward No. 4 in Singra Poura area.
The haat sits twice in a week at Chalanbeel gateway point on Monday and Thursday.
Its extent and trading are getting bigger gradually. At present, a large number of wholesalers come to the haat from different parts of the country. They buy eggs and take these to their respective places for trading.
The eggs are big in size and selling at Tk 60-70 per haali (four pieces). Per 100 piece eggs sell at Tk 1,600-1,800.
Abdul Khalek, an egg trader from Sirajganj, said, he has been buying eggs from the haat for four to five years. Price is comparatively higher, but in spite of this, many buyers and sellers come to the haat for eggs, he added.
Egg Trader Abdul Wahab said, he comes here from Bogura on every haat day and buy eggs.
Alhaj Miah, a wholesale merchant of the haat, said, his father took the initiative at first to set up the haat for egg businesses; now it has become a big one for egg trading in the northern region of the country.
The haat sits at 6am to close at 10am.
Many egg firms of Chalanbeel area bring eggs for selling to retailers and wholesalers.
Rifat Hossain, another egg trader of the haat, said, eggs are tasty and nutritious; so, buyers purchase these despite high price.
Singra Upazila Nirbahi Officer Majharul Islam said, the egg haat is the heritage of the Chalanbeel; native species of eggs are available here.
Upazila administration is always assisting the haat committee in solving any problem, he added.
