Prices of sacrificial cattle at temporary markets across Dhaka have dropped by more than 50 per cent in the final hours before Eid-ul-Adha, leaving traders worried about heavy losses while buyers welcomed the sudden decline.
However, continuous rainfall and rising transport costs have dampened the festive atmosphere at the capital’s cattle markets.
Visits to several cattle markets on Wednesday showed a sharp fall in the prices of medium and large-sized cattle, although prices of smaller animals remained relatively stable.
At the Notunbazar 100-Feet cattle market, trader Aynal, who brought 19 cattle from Chuadanga, said buyers were offering between Tk1.20 lakh and Tk 1.50 lakh for cattle he had initially priced at Tk 2.50 lakh.
“If I sell at these prices, I will suffer huge losses,” he said, adding that he had managed to sell only seven animals.
Another trader, Shahin, who arrived from Jamalpur with seven cattle, said he sold only three. According to him, a cow previously offered at Tk 1.80 lakh is now attracting bids of Tk 1.20 lakh, while another priced at Tk 3 lakh is being offered only Tk 1.50 lakh.
At the Aftabnagar cattle market, buyer Raisu said demand for premium cattle had almost disappeared.
“No one wants to spend more than Tk 5 lakh now. Traders asking Tk 8 lakh to Tk 10 lakh are receiving offers of only Tk 3 lakh to Tk 3.50 lakh,” he said, adding that many traders with high-priced cattle may have to return home without making sales.
At the Meradiya market, Monsur, who supervises the haseel collection booth, also confirmed the sharp decline in prices.
“Cattle that sold for Tk 1.50 lakh earlier are now being sold for Tk 70,000 to Tk 80,000,” he said, noting that overall transactions were much lower compared to last Eid.
Traders and buyers blamed several days of continuous rainfall for the market slowdown, saying waterlogging at many cattle markets had created severe difficulties due to inadequate drainage systems.
At the Tejgaon cattle market, buyer Sakibul Alam said bad weather forced him to hire a pickup van at nearly double the normal fare.
“Although cattle prices have fallen, transport and other costs have increased from all sides,” he said.
Trader Suleman from Jamalpur, selling cattle at the Aftabnagar market, said rising feed prices and transport expenses had already reduced profit margins before traders even reached Dhaka.
“We rear cattle for Eid hoping for additional profit. But at the current market rates, selling the animals to butchers by weight would be more profitable,” he said.
Buyer Saidul Islam at the Meradiya market said the five per cent haseel charge was also influencing prices. He noted that buyers purchasing cattle worth Tk 2 lakh must pay around Tk 10,000 as transaction tax, increasing overall expenses.
Traders urged market authorities to improve drainage facilities at cattle markets in the coming years, warning that poor infrastructure and unpredictable weather are making the seasonal cattle trade increasingly difficult for farmers and traders alike.
