A medium-sized cow is being sold at Tk 70,000 to Tk 1 lakh at cattle markets in Shiber Bazar, Mathar Bazar, Dutiar Dighirpar, Chhoygram, Chanpur Bazar and Chawkbazar of the district town.
“Demand of middle-sized cattle is high,” said Azmal Hossain, selling cattle at Chanpur market. “The price is quite satisfactory.”
Abdus Salam, a banker, bought a mid-sized cow for Tk 95,000. “The price this year seemed to be higher than the previous year,” he said. “Last year, a similar sized cow cost Tk 70,000.”
One of the reasons for the high price is shortage of 60,000 sacrificial animals. Cumilla livestock officer Dr Nazrul Islam Nazrul hoped that animals from other districts would fill the deficit.
Currently, there are 2,57,000 animals in the markets against a demand of 3,15,000 ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha. According to Nazrul, 3,11,112 animals were sacrificed in the district last year.
He said farmers and cattle rearers in Cumilla will get desired prices for their animals if the decision not to import cattle from India and Myanmar is implemented strictly.
Meanwhile, cattle market set up on the roads at Bakhrabad and Neura of the town is obstructing vehicular movement.