Cattle sale yet to gain impetus in Sylhet city

The Sylhet city’s cattle markets started witnessing ample stock of sacrificial animals on Monday, brushing aside the speculation over short supply of such animals following India’s strict border policy.
However, sales in the markets are yet to gain momentum with just three days to go before celebrating the Eid-ul-Azha (on Sep 25), leaving cattle traders in doldrums over their business prospects.
It happened so, as the buyers were seen observing a ‘wait-and-see’ policy thinking the supply of cattle would increase further in the remaining days ahead of the Eid, and subsequently their prices would fall.
Many traders brought an increased number of cows, bullocks, buffalos and goats, predicting a low influx of Indian cattle this year following the border ban.
Sensing a possible supply shortage, some of the traders changed their business strategy. They reared their own cattle for months to get higher prices instead of their previous business approach to collect cattle a few days before the Eid festival.
According to the traders, if the ongoing rainfall continues further, it would wash way their business prospects in the form of discouraging buyers visiting the markets.
However, visiting the city’s lone permanent cattle market at Kazibazar and temporary markets at Rikabibazar, Dariyapara, Modushohid, Patantula, Kazitula,  Masimpur, Ambarkhana, Akhalia, Taltola, Tilagar, Jalopara, Tacnical Road the Correspondent found that the Indian ban on cattle export had no impact on cattle supply.
“There are too many animals, but fewer customers. I could not sell a single cow although I’ve been here since Monday,” said Moklish, a cattle trader, who brought 19 medium and large-size animals at Kazibazar cattle market.
He said presence of the customers is too poor because of spells of monsoon and subsequent mud and filth in the markets, which is very discouraging for the traders.
“I would never come to Sylhet, if I incur loss this time like the previous two years,” he said.
Cattle, coming from India, as well as of local indigenous and Australian varieties are all available in the markets.
Their prices range between Tk 25,000 and Tk 2.50 million, while goats are available in between Tk 5,000 and Tk 45,000.
The traders were seen wrapping up their animals with long polythene sheet to protect those from downpour.
Most of the customers were found visiting the cattle markets only to observe the current market trend and supply situation of the animals.
However, a few customers were also seen buying animals of their choice on the day.
Market operator of Kazibazar cattle haat – Md Lutfar Rahman – said the number and varieties of cattle have increased this year.
“We were in fear that supply of cattle might decline. But our prediction proved wrong.”
He said nearly 0.10 million cows would be sold at Gabtoli. “Hopefully, the sale would increase from today (Tuesday),” he added.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) launched operation of mobile courts to check setting up cattle markets on roads, taking additional amount as hasil (charge), and to maintain security in and around the cattle markets by checking irregularities.