Buyers are yet to crowd Dhaka cattle markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, though traders and farmers from different districts continued arriving in Dhaka with sacrificial animals. Trucks and trawlers loaded with cows, goats and buffaloes are entering the city every day, creating the familiar atmosphere of the Eid cattle trade. However, despite the growing number of animals, traders say the expected rush of buyers has not yet begun.
Visits to Gabtoli, Postogola, Brothers Union ground and several other cattle markets on Friday showed traders busy unloading animals, feeding them straw and water, and trying to protect them from the intense heat by pouring water over their bodies. Workers were also seen setting up bamboo enclosures and preparing additional space inside the markets.
At the Brothers Union field near Motijheel, traders said the number of cattle inside the market was still limited, though many animals were being kept along nearby roads. Local residents complained that roads were being damaged as bamboo poles were installed to expand market boundaries.
Many traders also expressed frustration over inadequate facilities. Traders Asad and Muslim told The Daily Observer that market leaseholders had made promises regarding food and accommodation through loudspeaker announcements, but those assurances had not been fulfilled.
At the Postogola cattle market, trader Arif and four others from Kushtia brought around 20 cows, including several Australian Friesian breeds. They are asking around Tk 300,000 for each animal. However, Arif said most visitors were offering significantly lower prices.
"In the villages, these cows were worth around Tk 120,000. After transportation, feed and labour costs, we had to increase the prices. But buyers are bargaining much lower, which worries us," he said.
Along the riverbank near the Postogola cremation ground cattle market, trawlers carrying cattle from nearby districts were seen arriving throughout the day. As soon as the trawlers docked, the animals were unloaded directly into the market area. Cattle from Munshiganj, Chandpur, Khulna, Satkhira, Faridpur, Jashore and Kushtia are gradually filling the markets.
Still, the number of buyers remains relatively low. Most visitors are seen inspecting animals, taking photographs, and checking prices before leaving. Many buyers said cattle prices remain high, while rising living costs have forced families to carefully calculate their budgets before purchasing sacrificial animals.
Trader Rahim from Kushtia brought two large buffaloes to the Postogola market, asking Tk 500,000 each. He said he had been waiting for buyers for two days.
"The market has not fully picked up yet. People are mostly coming to look around. Hopefully, more buyers will come during the final days before Eid," he said.
At Gabtoli cattle market, trader Rafiqul Islam from Jashore said the cost of raising cattle had increased significantly this year due to higher feed, medicine and transportation expenses.
"We are worried about profits. Buyers are still few, but we hope the market will become crowded in the final days," he said.
Another trader, Abdul Kader from Faridpur, said daily expenses for feeding animals, labour and accommodation were increasing. "If sales do not improve soon, many traders may face losses," he added.
According to the Department of Livestock Services, Bangladesh currently has more than 12.3 million sacrificial animals available for Eid-ul-Azha this year, against an estimated demand of around 10.1 million animals. Officials say the country will have a surplus of nearly 2.2 million animals this season.
An illegal cattle market has reportedly been set up at Sonali Field in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, without any official lease approval. Local residents alleged that activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's student wing (Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal) have occupied the field and are selling cows and goats there ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
According to the allegations, sacrificial animals are being brought from different areas and sold at the site without authorization, causing inconvenience to residents and disrupting normal movement in the area.
