Rajshahi: With the holy Eid-ul-Azha approaching, Qurbani cattle markets across Rajshahi have become vibrant with buyers and sellers, with demand this year centering mainly on small and medium-sized animals.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the region's largest cattle market, the historic City Haat in Rajshahi city, along with various upazila and rural markets, is witnessing a heavy influx of sacrificial animals, including cows, goats, and sheep. Market stakeholders said middle- and lower-income buyers are showing greater interest in medium-sized cattle and goats as rising living costs have made large cattle less affordable.
A visit to Rajshahi City Haat found brisk trading continuing from morning till night amid lively bargaining between buyers and sellers. Crowds were particularly noticeable around cattle priced between Tk 70,000 and Tk 120,000. Goats priced between Tk 15,000 and Tk 30,000 were also in high demand.
Traders said cattle weighing slightly over two maunds were selling for Tk 85,000 to Tk 95,000, while those weighing between 3 and 3.5 maunds fetched Tk 140,000 to Tk 145,000. Cattle weighing 5 to 5.5 maunds were selling for Tk 160,000 to Tk 180,000, while larger animals weighing between 10 and 12 maunds were priced at Tk 500,000 to Tk 550,000.
Buyers said the rising prices of essential commodities have forced many families to revise their Eid budgets. Abdul Mannan, a resident of Rajshahi city's Uposhohor area, stated he had initially planned to buy a large cow but later changed his decision due to financial constraints.
Another buyer, Shamim Patwary, emphasized that large cattle were now beyond the reach of many middle-class families. 'For families like ours, medium-sized cattle are the only option this year. There also appears to be a good supply of local breed cattle in the market,' he added.
Farmers and traders noted they had prepared more small and medium-sized cattle this year after assessing market trends. Ali Hossain, a farmer from Natore, mentioned that buyers would find animals according to their affordability.
The goat market is also witnessing significant activity as small families continue to prefer goats for Qurbani. Good-quality goats were selling between Tk 18,000 and Tk 20,000, while traders predicted prices could rise further closer to Eid.
Meanwhile, the District Livestock Office reported an adequate supply of sacrificial animals in Rajshahi this year. Official estimates indicated a surplus of around 91,953 animals, with 463,011 animals suitable for Qurbani against an estimated demand of 371,058.
Market lessees said the supply situation remains stable due to increased production by local farms, reducing dependence on cattle from other districts. However, they expect trading activity to intensify in the final days before Eid. Rajshahi City Haat lessee Shawkat Ali noted that many visitors are still surveying the market before making purchases.
Meanwhile, police and local administration have strengthened security measures at the cattle markets to prevent counterfeit currency circulation, theft, mugging, and traffic congestion around the markets.