A unique ‘residential hotel’ for cattle has been established by a private entrepreneur in Dharmadas area near Modern Mor, at the entrance to Rangpur city. The facility can currently accommodate around 4,00 to 5,00 cows and charges only Tk 50 per cow per day.
The initiative has already drawn widespread attention across Rangpur and other parts of the country. Cattle wholesalers, traders, and farmers from districts including Chittagong, Faridpur, Shariatpur, Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Comilla, Noakhali, and Barisal are now using the facility while buying and selling cattle in the Rangpur region.
According to traders, there is strong demand in southern Bangladesh for indigenous cattle from Rangpur because local beef is considered tastier than Friesian cattle meat. As a result, traders regularly travel to Rangpur to purchase cows from different cattle markets.
Previously, traders faced major difficulties because there was no safe place to keep cattle while collecting enough cows for transport. Buying a full truckload often takes several days, as traders usually purchase only a few cows from each market.
To address these issues, entrepreneur Alamgir Hossain established the cattle hotel beside the Rangpur-Dhaka highway in the Modern Mor Dharmadas area.
Alamgir said the hotel authority charges only Tk 50 per day for each cow. The management ensures cleanliness and security, while owners arrange food for their cattle themselves. Rice straw and other cattle feed are readily available on-site, and staff members can also feed the animals if requested.
Farmers and traders say the facility has greatly reduced their worries regarding security, feeding, and transportation.
Momin Sarkar, a cattle buyer from Chittagong, said traders previously suffered from theft, robbery, and feeding problems while purchasing cows from different markets in Rangpur. Now they can safely keep cattle at the hotel until they gather enough animals to transport by truck.
Abdul Matin, a trader from Shariatpur, echoed the same opinion. He said traders can now stay in hotels within Rangpur city while safely keeping cattle at the residential facility. He added that he had previously lost cows to theft, but those concerns have now disappeared.
Similar views were expressed by traders Rahman Mia from Chittagong, Abdus Sattar from Cox’s Bazar, and Altaf Hossain from Teknaf. Altaf said he buys a few cows from different markets and stores them at the hotel until he has enough cattle to fill a truck.
Local farmers are also benefiting. Afzal Hossain, a cattle seller from Pirgachha in Rangpur, said that if he does not receive a satisfactory price in one market, he can now keep his cattle safely and try selling them at another market instead of taking them back home.
Other traders from nearby districts, including Gaibandha, shared similar experiences.
The cattle hotel has also generated employment opportunities. Fifteen workers are currently employed to maintain cleanliness and security at the facility.
Employee Rahim Mia said he earns around Tk 500 per day working there, which has improved his family’s financial condition.
In addition, around 20 more people are earning livelihoods by selling cattle feed such as straw, husk, and other animal food items near the hotel.
Hotel owner Alamgir Hossain said he rented the land after paying an advance of Tk 10 lakh. Although the facility currently accommodates 400–500 cows, he plans to expand capacity to at least 1,000 cattle in the future.
Rangpur Divisional Livestock Officer Dr Abdul Hai Sarkar praised the initiative, calling it an excellent step. He said the facility is helping wholesalers and farmers by solving problems related to cattle security and feeding while also creating employment opportunities for many people.