Dhaka City Corporation fixed the rate of beef at Tk 525 per kg for the month of Ramadan. It was stated that the price will be in place till 1 June under city-corporation monitoring.

 As per that declaration, the time for selling beef at a fixed rate is over and buyers may have to become hostage at the hands of meat sellers.

General Secretary of the Bangladesh Meat Sellers Association, Rabiul Islam, said: “We hope to sell beef at Tk 525 per kg but unscrupulous businessmen may take advantage of the situation.”

We placed a demand to the government to stop the arbitrary operation of lessors at the Gabtali cattle market; if the fixed rate of Tk 100 as tax for each cow is paid then we can certainly sell the meat for Tk 525 per kg. However, currently, the lessors take Tk 5,000-7,000 for each cow, which has an impact on the price of meat in the market, said Rabiul. 

As a result, beef, which sold for Tk 300 per kg three years ago, has become Tk 600 per kg, added Rabiul.

Meat sellers say that they will sit with DNCC authority on Jun 3 over the issue of excess tax taken for each cow.

If the stipulated Tk 100 is kept then a trader cane easily sell the meat for Tk 500 or less.

“If any trader demands too much after the tax is reduced then we will take measures against that person.”

A trader says that during Eid, dishonest traders create anarchy in the cow market, a cow worth Tk. 40 thousand is sold at Tk. 60 to 70 thousand.

“Also, workers become scarce during Eid; in addition, workers have to be paid bonus too, which impact the eventual market rate of beef,” said Rabiul.

During Ramadan, many traders faced fines and imprisonment for not selling beef at the fixed rate of Tk 525.

On May 6, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor fixed the price list or meat asTk 525 for per kg of beef, Tk 480 for bull, Tk 750 for mutton and Tk 650 for lamb.