Supply of local cows and other sacrificial animals at the capital's Gabtoli cattle market is getting momentum day by day but very few buyers are turning up there.
The market started receiving cattle including cows, buffalo, camels, sheep and goats from Aug 5.
"We are expecting buyers' flow to the market from Thursday," said Md Sanwar Hossain, a member of the market management committee.
"Usually, the market starts to become vibrant four to five days before Eid, which continues till the day after the festival," he added.
Sanwar said that the prices of cattle would remain within the reach of the buyers.
Meanwhile, local suppliers have expressed fear about not getting fair prices for their cattle due to presence of Indian cattle in the market.
Abu Taleb Shikder, a farmer cum trader, said that he saw supply of Indian cows at Gabtoli market.
"I brought my own cattle for a fair price. If the supply of Indian cattle continues to rise, I may not get fair price," he told Dhaka Tribune.
He said the transport cost was reasonable as there was no extortion.
Abu Taleb is asking Tk 180,000 for his cow, supposed to yield 320kg meat. He has been offered Tk 120,000, which he declined, hoping higher price.
Abu Bakar Siddik, from Mirpur upazila in Kushtia, said he brought some Indian cattle which he procured months ago.
On Jul 16, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has banned import of cattle for sale as sacrificial animals.
The ministry said the country needed 11.5 million sacrificial animals as per demand of the last year, and local supply was adequate.
In Dhaka's 24 cattle markets, Gabtoli cattle market is widely known as one of the biggest one in the country.
Local cows are supplied to the market from many places of the country including Kushtia, Shariatpur, Rajbari, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Ganbandha, Dinajpur, Chuadanga, Munshiganj, Madaripur and Mymensigh.
Ziaur Rahman, another cattle seller, entered the market on Tuesday (Aug 6) with 17 local cows.
“My cows are healthy and fit to yield 120kg to 160kg meat. Their prices are ranged between Tk 85,000 to Tk 120,000,” he added.
BIGGEST COW SO FAR AT TK 4 MILLION
The owner of the so-far biggest cow named 'Juboraj' – a Holstein Friesian type – asked for Tk 4 million. The black colored bull hails from Jhenaidah.
Some other biggest cows drew attention of the customers which are Holstein Friesian as well. Such as 'Rajababu' from Munsiganj, 'Beerbahadur' from Pabna, 'Big Boss' from Sylhet.
OTHER ANIMALS
There are also goats, buffaloes, camels placed into the market. Only three camels were displayed on Wednesday, price at Tk 1.6 million. The camels are came from India's Rajasthan state.
Abdul Halim, a herdsmen of goats, hailer of Munsiganj said: “The goats' price starts at Tk 5,000 upto Tk 30,000.”