With the Eid-ul-Azha just days away, the activities of the sacrificial animal markets in Old Dhaka’s Dholaikhal and Kamalapur have reached to the peak.
As Eid is set to be celebrated on Saturday, the number of buyers and sellers flocking to those markets has surged dramatically.
Cattle traders from across the country including Bogra, Chapainawabganj, Kushtia, Natore, Pabna, Meherpur and Kishoreganj have brought in large numbers of cows, goats, buffaloes and sheep to meet the Eid demand.
During on-site visits to the Dholaikhal and Kamalapur markets, crowds of buyers and sellers were seen from early morning until late night.
Sellers are busy tending to their animals, while potential buyers roam the markets in search of their perfect sacrificial animals.
Bargaining is in full swing with transactions reaching their peak.
Despite the ongoing sales, many sellers remain hopeful that prices will rise in the final hours before Eid and are thus reluctant to sell their animals just yet.
This year, medium-sized domestic cows have the highest demand.
Small cows are being priced between from Tk70,000 and Tk1,20,000, while medium-sized cows were asked from Tk1.3 lakh to Tk 3lakh.
Goats are also in demand, with small goats priced between Tk15,000 and Tk25,000 and medium-sized goats ranging from Tk25,000 to Tk40,000.
The markets have also taken on a festive mood.
Families are arriving together, with some buyers selecting animals after consulting relatives via video calls.
Young children, in particular, are visibly excited to see the animals closely.
Amid the hustle and bustle, special security arrangements have been put in place.
Police patrols, counterfeit currency detection machines and free veterinary services are available on-site.
Veterinary teams are working around the clock to check the health of animals and provide initial treatment and medicines free of charge.
At the Kamalapur market, trader Rabiul Islam, who brought 17 cows from Bogra, shared his experience: “So far, I’ve sold eight cows. Buyers are bargaining hard, but we’ll only sell if the price is fair."
He added: “The prices may seem high, but the transportation costs, feed, staying and other expenses are significant. Price hike in such case is normal."
Meanwhile, Abdul Malek, a businessman from Old Dhaka, was busy inspecting cattle at Dholaikhal.
“I’ve negotiated prices for a few cows. Prices are slightly higher than last year,” he said.
“I’m looking for a good medium-sized domestic cow for my family. The quality of cattle seems good overall, although some sellers are demanding a bit more. Still, there’s a special joy in coming to the market and selecting the animal with your own hands,” he opined.
Throughout the markets, activities including announcements from loudspeakers and sellers call out to attract attention and bargaining continue non-stop.
Surrounding the cattle markets, makeshift stalls are also doing brisk business—selling food, bottled water, animal feed and ropes essential for handling livestock.
