Record cattle supply in Rajshahi markets

The cattle markets have been witnessing plenty supply of locally reared sacrificial animals following remarkable boost in the local animal husbandry sector in recent years. According to market sources, the buyers prefer locally reared healthier and hygienic cattle-heads as sacrificial animals than the artificially fattened or extremely lower number of imported ones. As a whole, the boosted up native cattle production has been dominating the markets of sacrificial animals. In most of the cattle markets, the buyers were seen opting to purchase native animals. Atiqur Rahman Kalu, Lease Holder of City Hat, said the cattle markets are being witnessed a record supply of sacrificial animals in the adjacent districts following huge boost in the local animal husbandry sector in recent years. He mentioned that the local animal husbandry sector has marked a revolutionary boost in recent years following massive steps taken by the government and different development organizations. Both in rural and urban areas, the poor and marginalized people including women have achieved tremendous successes in the sector getting various assistances from the government and development partners. Rajshahi City Corporation allowed installation of eight makeshift cattle markets in the city which began to draw huge cattle, including imported ones from India. Traders said there were plenty of supplies of cattle in the markets and their prices were similar to the last Eid-ul-Azha. The price of an ideal sized cow or buffalo starts from Tk 30,000 to 80,000 and a sheep or goat can be purchased from Tk 5,000 to 25,000 according to size. In addition to the city’s biggest cattle market-City haat, some temporary markets have been set up at Court Bazaar, Shaheb Bazaar Zero point, Railway Station, Court Station, Naodapara Aam Chattar and Kazla. Meanwhile, currency-screening machines were installed in some of the cattle markets in the city and nine upazilas of the district with a view to resisting the use of fake notes on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Azha. Shafiqul Islam, Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), told journalists that all-out security measures were taken to check law and order in and around the cattle markets, reports BSS. “Besides, we have introduced a special traffic management system to ease traffic congestion in and around cattle markets in the city,” he added. RMP installed temporary security camps at every cattle market here. Besides, ‘patrol teams and plainclothes police would also be deployed,’ added RMP chief. Necessary measures were also taken so that the cattle markets are not set up on roads and streets disrupting the vehicles movement.