Gobindaganj sacrifice animal market crowded with more sellers than buyers
Shameem Reza Dafrul, Gobindaganj (Gaibandha)
Just a few days after the second major religious festival of Muslims, Eid-ul-Azha, the Eid of Sacrifice. With this Eid of Sacrifice in sight, the sacrificial animal market is crowded. Golapbagh Hat in Gobindaganj is the traditional animal trading market in the northern region. Small and big traders from various districts of the country including the capital Dhaka come to this market to buy and sell animals when Eid comes. Cows, goats, sheep are imported to this market from Gaibandha, Bogra districts and surrounding districts and upazilas. This year too was no exception. On the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, sufficient cows, goats, sheep were imported to this market last Sunday. However, there are more sellers than buyers. There are more brokers than that.
On the spot, when I went to this market last Sunday, it was seen that there was a surge in animal buyers and sellers in the market. There is no place to keep sesame seeds in the market. Some are asking for the price of animals, while others are checking the price.
About 10,000 animals, including small and large bulls, oxen, goats, and cows, have been imported to this market for sale. Since there is no space in the market, a separate market for goats and sheep has been set up in the government high school grounds. Cattle and goat traders from nearby areas have brought cows, goats, and sheep to sell at this market. People are flocking to see the big cows that have come to the market. Since there are more buyers for medium-sized cows in the market, the prices are a bit higher. At the same time, since the prices of large cows are higher, there are fewer buyers. Talking to farm owners and cattle traders, it is known that the prices of animals are a bit lower this year than last year. Md. Salam Mia, a cattle trader from Katabari village of the upazila, has brought a cow to this market for sale. He has asked for 1 lakh 50 thousand taka for the cow. If it is 1 lakh 30 thousand taka, he will sell it. The buyers have said the price is 80/90 thousand taka. The businessman said that if he sells below 1 lakh 30 thousand taka, he will lose money.
Farmer Ehsan Ali has brought 3 bulls to sell at the market. He is asking for 80 to 90 thousand taka. Buyers are asking for 70/75 thousand taka. Abdul Halim has also brought 5 cows. He said that he keeps 4/5 cows every year on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. He bought the cows after the last Eid. He bought each cow for between 50 and 60 thousand taka. He brought them for sale after raising them for a year. Now he is asking for 1 lakh 20/30 thousand taka. Buyers are asking for 70/80 thousand taka. Sellers say that the price of the cows is much lower this time.
A buyer named Rafiqul Islam, who came to buy cows at this market, complained that they are being forced to buy animals at a higher price due to the nepotism of the brokers. Apart from that, they are falling into the clutches of the brokers while buying cows. There is no way to buy cows without a broker in this market.
The leaseholder of the market, Rabiul Kabir Manu, said that although there are enough cows and goats for sacrifice at the market, the number of buyers is low. Due to this, the prices and sales are somewhat low.
However, it is expected that the sale of animals at the right price will increase in the next markets. However, denying the issue of brokers, he said that there is no place for brokers in this market and no one is being charged a large amount of rent. Rent is being charged at the government rate. The market has adequate security measures, volunteer services, and veterinary services.
