Bangladesh: Cattle markets yet to gain momentum, traders fear price fall

Despite garnering crowds of enthusiastic visitors, the sale of sacrificial animals in the cattle markets of the capital city has yet to reach its peak, with just four days left for Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims. Prices of sacrificial animals are higher this year due to an increase in the prices of cattle feed and other rearing costs. However, farmers fear that they may have to incur losses if cows enter the country through the borders and lead to a fall in prices at the markets. Visiting the Aftabnagar haat, one of the 19 cattle markets in the capital, on Friday, many cattle traders were seen passing idle time at their stalls due to lack of buyers. The number of animals brought for sale was not so high. People related to the cattle markets said that cows have started arriving in the haats from various parts of the country since Thursday night, and it will take another two to three days to start selling in full swing with the arrival of more ...