The sale of sacrificial animals through online platforms has been steadily ramping up over the past few days, with sellers expecting demand to peak soon as Eid-ul-Azha approaches.
As in previous years, digital cattle markets have been launched both at the government’s initiative as well as by several top e-commerce platforms.
Cows and goats make up the vast majority of animals on offer. Buyers select the animals from photos and videos.
Asad Khan has been buying sacrificial animals through online platforms during Eid since last year for convenience and because it reduces the chances of contracting Covid-19. He has booked a cow on Digital Haat this year as he was satisfied with their service last year.
A vendor tending to his cattle Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka TribuneThe third edition of Digital Haat, a public-private joint venture, was inaugurated on July 3. The website address has been permanently changed from .net to .gov.
More than 900 regional haats have been added to the platform this year, which includes an app as well as a website. The service will be available in Chittagong, Rajshahi and Jessore as well as Dhaka.
The management of this haat is being jointly handled by the Ministry of Commerce, Dhaka North City Corporation, Bangladesh Dairy Farm Association, A2I, Ekshop, and E-Cab.
Apart from a call centre and live chat facility, there is a live haat option to get updates on new animals. The platform does not place any charges on buyers or sellers, and includes the option for donations of the skins of animals.
What is available on e-commerce platforms?
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneThe country's top e-commerce platforms Daraz, Bikroy.com and Priyoshop are all selling sacrificial animals. E-commerce experts said that the sale of sacrificial animals on the platforms started a month ago and many have already been sold.
Ishita Sharmin, chief executive of Bikroy.com, said customers used to worry about the weight and delivery of the animals bought on e-commerce platforms, but their perception has changed. “People trust our services after having availed of them over the past few years.”
About 10,000 animals are being advertised on Bikroy.com, a large number of which have already been sold.
Priyoshop Chief Executive Officer Ashiqul Alam Khan said the platform had also launched a special campaign on the occasion of Eid. For the sixth time, about 1,000 animals, including cows, goats and sheep, have been showcased on the platform.
Stating that sales had so far been satisfactory, he said he expected them to rise significantly in the next few days.
Daraz has displayed over 1,500 animals and is offering a discount for Eid. The demand for low-cost cows and goats on the e-commerce platform is high. Most of the cows priced between Tk60,000 and Tk80,000 have been sold out..
Sadeeq agro has also experienced a higher demand for medium and small size cattle. It has already sold more than 2,500 animals and over 10,000 are on offer.
From buying to slaughtering
Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka TribuneThe slaughtering service was high in demand in the previous two years due to the pandemic.
A top official of Sadeeq agro said: “This year, we got less slaughtering requisitions than in previous years, but the number is still significant. We have already got 100 slaughtering orders for Eid day.”
Buyers can book butchers in the Digital Haat. The meat will be delivered to buyers at their specified addresses in air-conditioned vehicles.
Some customers have, however, complained about their poor experience of slaughtering and delivery.
After a bad experience with the slaughtering service last year, Abdus Samad declined to get the service this year. However, he still ordered the animal online.
“Last year they delivered the meat at dawn the next day. By that time, all the meat was rotten,” he said.
Precautions for Social Media
In addition to the e-commerce platform, social media has had a great response to the sale of sacrificial animals, especially through Facebook and YouTube.
Companies selling sacrificial animals through Facebook include Samarai Cattle, Safe Protein, Meghdubi Agro, and hundreds of others.
However, experts have advised caution when buying or selling animals through Facebook, as it is difficult to verify identities.
