A total of 8, 60, 882 more cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep have been reared for the demand of sacrifice in 15 upazilas and three police stations of Chattogram city. There is a shortage of 35,387 cattle. However, livestock officials said that sufficient cattle are ready locally.
According to the latest information from the District Livestock Department, 8,60,288 animals are ready for sacrifice in the district this year against the demand of about 9 lakh animals. Even then, there is a possibility of animals coming from the neighboring districts of Chattogram. As a result, there will be no crisis in the cattle market, but there is a fear of price increase, said the concerned.
Chattogram District Livestock Officer Dr Md. Alamgir said that although there is a slight shortage compared to the demand, there is nothing to worry about. There are sufficient animals for sacrifice in various districts. Communication is being maintained with other districts, but there will be no shortage of animals during Eid al-Adha. Traders will be able to buy and sell animals everywhere. However, there is a fear that the price of sacrificial animals will increase due to the higher food prices compared to last year. This could be due to various reasons including the increase in the price of cattle feed.
The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) had invited tenders to set up 9 temporary animal markets in city. On the last day of submission last Saturday, tenders were submitted for only four animal markets. Out of the four markets, two bids were lower than the government price. No one is interested in becoming the lessee of 5 animal markets.
This time, the bid for the animal market worth 9 crores in Chattogram has been reduced to 6 crore taka. The largest and most expensive animal market in the city is the Sagarika Cattle Market. The Chattogram City Corporation earns a huge amount of revenue every year by leasing the market.
City Corporation sources said that this year's lease price for Sagarika cattle market is 9 crores 23 lakh taka. Last year, this market was leased for 9 crores 21 lakh taka. However, no one collected bids in the first two rounds last time. The expected price was received after the third round of notification. The market was leased 61 days after the scheduled time.
City Corporation earned 13 crores 67 lakh taka from the market lease in the 1431 Bengali year, 9 crores 21 lakh taka was earned from Sagarika cattle market, which is 67 percent of the total income.
A farmer said, "We are contacting various places within the city to sit at the sacrifice market. We are also preparing to take cows and goats. This time the price will be higher than last time. Because the price of animal feed has increased, it has become difficult for farmers to survive. Wheat bran is now having to be bought for 35-40 taka. And soybean meal is now priced at more than 70 taka.’
He said, ‘Our animal husbandry expenses have increased a lot due to the increase in prices. I am struggling to feed the cows properly. The price of animals is not increasing as much as the price of food. However, I am worried whether the cost will increase due to the additional animal feed. The government needs to focus on reducing the price of animal feed. The farms will be forced to close.’
According to the government, there are 365,029 bulls, 121,670 oxen, 49,114 cows and 64,163 buffaloes ready for sacrifice in Chattogram. Apart from this, there are 255,174 goats, 55,697 sheep and 35 other animals. The demand at the upazila level is highest in Sandwip.
This time, the demand is equal to the availability, 85,250 animals. The demand is lowest in Boalkhali, 29,742. There is a demand for animals of 1,09,757 in City
Sources say that in Chattogram district 3,86,767 animals were sacrificed in 2011. In the next three years, 4,56,000, 4,60,000, and 4,87,000 animals were sacrificed respectively. 500,000 animals were sacrificed in 2015. 8,18,468 animals were sacrificed in Chattogram district and the metropolis in 2024.
This time, the sacrificial animal markets are also in the final stages of preparation. The City Corporation and the district administration have invited tenders for the lease of setting up the markets at the designated places. It is known that necessary steps are being taken to ensure safety and hygiene, including permission.
