With the nation getting ready to celebrate Eid-Ul-Azha, the government has launched DigitalHaat — a digital marketplace for consumers to buy sacrificial animals — for the third time.
However, the government with its ICT wing, a2i (aspire to innovate) and e-Cab (E-commerce Association of Bangladesh) have brought several changes to the online marketplace including its online address which has changed to www.digitalhaat.gov.bd from the .net domain, as well as adding several other features and an app already available on Google Play Store.
The app provides sellers with an opportunity to enlist their animals on the platform to be sold, apart from helping consumers make online purchases from 900 regional haats that have been added to the platform.
On top of that, a live update feature has been added to the platform which provides consumers with live data on price differences from physical or offline animal markets across the nation. Moreover, DigitalHaat now expanded its slaughtering services to regions outside of Dhaka such as Chittagong, Rajshahi and Jessore.
Additionally, a digital tool to help consumers weigh animals virtually has been added to the platform.
The platform is currently displaying animals in diverse colours, sizes, and price ranges including local, cross, Indian, Nepali, Sahiwal, Jebu, Sindhi, Zersy, Holistine, Haryana, Friziyan and many other types of cattle. Consumers will be able to purchase the desired cattle ranging from Tk50,000 to Tk1 crore.
Maintaining public health standards, this digital platform will deliver sacrificial animals. The slaughtering fee would be around 23% of the cattle price.
This time, the Ministry of Commerce, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Bangladesh Dairy Farm Association (BDFA), a2i, Ekshop and e-Cab are conducting a joint venture to operate the online platform.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sham Rezaul Karim was the chief guest and State Minister for ICT Junaid Ahmed Palak was the special guest at the inauguration of Digital Haat that was conducted virtually on Sunday.
“The government has taken several steps to boost online animal markets and to protect consumers of the sector while ensuring accountability. We have given directives to the all-districts administrations that will support the Digital Haat connect with all upazilas, which will help to reduce crowding in the physical cattle market,” State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said at the inauguration.
“The introduction of policies and guidelines have helped the consumers of today to the extent that they are safeguarded even after paying for their goods. It guarantees return of the money if any issue arises,” Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said at the event
There will be an escrow system to ensure safe transactions and safeguard customers' money as well as the government payment gateway ekpay to facilitate digital transactions.
With a view to fulfill the necessity of a wide variety of customers, Digital Haat receives payment through bank accounts, mobile banking, card payment, etc.
However, speaking to several tech-savvy consumers who usually depend on online services for day-to-day activities, it was found that they are considering purchasing sacrificial animals from physical locations instead of online, as it gives a more clear picture of the trade or bargain being made.
About 9,093,242 cattle were sacrificed across the country last year, data from the ministry showed. Of them, 387,579 were sold online.
According to e-Cab, 387,579 animals worth Tk2,735.11 crore were sold across the country, among which, 296,610 are cows and buffaloes and 90,869 are goats and sheep.
This time, about 20 makeshift cattle markets will be set up in Dhaka.
The central bank and the DNCC are facilitating a digital payment system in six of them so that customers can make transactions electronically.
