Khulna division is expected to have no shortage of sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha this year, with livestock officials saying supply has exceeded demand by more than 3,67,000 animals, a development they believe could help keep prices within buyers’ reach.
According to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), around 14.47 lakh sacrificial animals have been prepared across the division against an estimated demand of nearly 10.79 lakh. Officials also said there would be no need to import animals from outside the country to meet local demand during the festival.
Meanwhile, Khulna City Corporation (KCC) may once again operate the traditional Joragate cattle market on its own after receiving no response to three consecutive tender invitations for leasing out the market.
Khulna DLS Director Mohammad Golam Haider said demand for sacrificial animals in the division this year was estimated at around 1.079 million, compared with nearly 8,29,000 last year.
“To help reduce prices ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, around 14.46 lakh animals have been prepared this year,” he said.
He said local livestock farmers would be able to meet the entire demand, leaving an estimated surplus of 3,67,360 animals across the division.
“Since supply is sufficient compared with demand, prices are likely to decrease significantly,” he added.
The official said temporary cattle markets would be set up across the division’s 10 districts, including Khulna city, where large numbers of sacrificial animals would be brought for sale before Eid.
Official data showed that a total of 14,46,809 sacrificial animals had been reared locally against an estimated demand of 10,79,449 animals.
The animals include 130,427 bulls, 32,027 oxen, 82,302 cows, 4,089 buffaloes, 851,370 goats, 51,173 sheep and 216 animals in other categories.
Sahabuddin Ahmed, owner of a cattle farm in Samantasena village under Rupsa upazila, said prices of sacrificial animals could still remain slightly high because of rising feed costs.
Farmer Didarul Alam of Dumuria upazila said he had been raising seven indigenous cattle for nearly a year using grass, maize, wheat bran and locally available feed to keep the animals healthy and attractive to buyers.
Another farmer, Liaquat Hossain, said he had continued his family’s traditional livestock farming business before starting commercial farming with his brothers on eight kathas of land in Tipna village.
He said their farm now includes both cattle and local and foreign breeds of goats.
Livestock markets have already started operating in several districts of Khulna division, although traders and leaseholders said full-scale trading activity was expected to begin within another week.
KCC may run cattle market itself
KCC has so far invited tenders four times for operating the Joragate sacrificial cattle market after failing to attract bidders in the first three rounds.
The latest tender is scheduled to be opened on Monday. If no bidder participates, the city corporation will operate the market directly under existing regulations.
Last year, KCC earned Tk 2.07 crore in revenue after managing the cattle market on its own.
According to sources, the first tender was floated on 12 March. After receiving no response, fresh invitations were issued on 31 March and 9 April.
Another tender notice was later published in newspapers on 23 April, but no contractor has yet shown interest in leasing the market.
KCC Market Branch official Sheikh Shafiqul Hasan Didar said the lease value of the market had been fixed at Tk 2.30 crore.
“We invited tenders three times but did not receive any response. A fourth round was later announced, and Monday has been fixed for tender opening,” he said.
“If no contractor takes part, the city corporation itself will operate the market,” he added.
Didar said KCC had also operated the market last year after failing to receive bids and earned Tk 2.07 crore in revenue.
He said the market toll rate, locally known as hasil, was 4 per cent last year and would remain unchanged this year.
The market will include medical teams for both people and animals, while law enforcement agencies will maintain strict patrols to prevent fraud and ensure security, he added.
Bank booths will also be set up to help detect counterfeit currency.
Didar said the market would begin operations one week before Eid-ul-Azha.
KCC has already formed a 32-member committee to oversee market management, with acting secretary Rahima Khatun Bushra appointed as convener and Market Branch official Sheikh Shafiqul Hasan Didar as member secretary.
