A six-year old cow in Sylhet named "Royal Bidyut," which weighs 32 maunds, and is six feet long, is the prime attraction of this year's Eid-ul-Azha’s cattle market.
Locals say it is one of the largest cattle across the country, and is currently the largest in all of Sylhet. Royal Bidyut is owned by Surma Cattle Farm's Md Abu Noman.
Noman said the cattle was born at incumbent Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury's dairy farm, after which it was brought to Surma Cattle Farm three years ago.
"Royal Bidyut's diet is also legendary," he remarked, "I will not sell it for less than Tk15 lakh. So far, people are asking for Tk9 lakh. Royal Bidyut is at an appropriate age to be sacrificed for this Eid-ul-Azha."
Surma Cattle Farm is located at Shahartali area's Kurbantila, right beside the mountains. It was established in 2002.
According to Noman, there are other humongous cattle, local and imported, available at the farm, with others weighing between 500-600 kilograms.
This year at least 52 cattle will be up for sale ahead of Eid, he added. 24 cattle out of the lot has already been sent to the city's Kazirbazar cattle market for sale.
Upon inspection, this correspondent found that a team of workers were assigned just to take care of Royal Bidyut - one massaged him, while another showered him with a hose spray, and such.
The hay used to feed the cattle is also grown at the farm, which is grown organically, Noman said.
He also brings veterinarians to regularly vaccinate the cattle, and look after their wellbeing.
Bangladesh has a total stock of 11.18 million cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep "ready for Eid slaughtering" this year; slightly up from the previous year.
In addition to maintaining the stock of animals ready for sacrifice during Eid, preparations have also been taken to supply healthy goats, sheep, buffaloes, and cattle in the markets for Eid-ul-Azha.
4.58 million cows and buffaloes, 7.20 million goats and sheep, and a large number of other sacrificial animals will be available to be slaughtered this year, department of livestock services (DLS) confirmed the figure at a meeting held recently.
Earlier, the number of illegally brought Indian cows were 2.4 to 2.5 million annually; however, only 92,000 cows entered Bangladesh in 2018.