With the raging pandemic keeping many away from crowded cattle markets, the online sale of sacrificial animals has gained momentum across the country ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

The digital platforms have reported a sale of nearly three lakh cattle until Saturday, three days ahead of the festival, surpassing last year’s sale of 87,000 animals.

Read:Online sales of sacrificial animals could touch 7 lakh this Eid: Tipu

Some 289,819 animals have already been sold online worth Tk 2,142.55 crore, according to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) on Saturday.

Among the animals, 223,349 were cows or buffalos, while the rest 66,470 were goats and sheep, which were sold through online platforms including social media pages.

The highest 143,416 animals– 118,499 cows or buffaloes and 24,917 goats or sheep— were sold in the Chattogram Division.

Besides, 40,506 cattle (cows, buffalos, goats or sheep) were sold in Dhaka Division, while 41,281 in Rajshahi Division, 41,176 in Rangpur Division, 16,303 in Khulna Division, 2,270 in Barishal Division, 3,263 in Sylhet Division and 1,604 in Mymensingh Division.

More than 17 lakh cattle –-1,403,357 cows and buffalos and 307,360 goats and sheep have so far been uploaded online for the sale.  

“The online sale of cattle is getting good response this year,” said DLS Director (Extension) Dr Debashis Das.

He said the DLS aims to upload some 20pc-25-pc cattle online for sale this year.

Read:27,000 sacrificial animals sold online ahead of Eid

Dr Debashis, however, said the online sale has started declining with the withdrawal of Covid-19 restrictions sending more buyers to physical markets.

Some 94 lakh sacrificial animals were sold in physical markets in 2020, said Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Rawnak Mahmud at a recent function.

The total market value of the animals was Tk 57,000 crore in 2019 and Tk 52,000 crore in 2020, he said.

On last Tuesday, a nationwide digital cattle marketplace was launched under joint management of the ICT Division and the e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB).

About 1843 online shops and 241 marginal haats (cattle markets) are connected with the marketplace.

Customers from any part of the country can purchase sacrificial animals from the online marketplace https://digitalhaat.net/ avoiding all kinds of health hazards amid the second wave of Covid-19.

Read:Digital Haat and more Qurbani Cow online shops targeting Eid-ul-Azha in Bangladesh

In case of irregularities or discrepancy, the aggrieved seller or buyer can also lodge complaints at 09614102030.

There is no scope for buyers and sellers to be deceived if the transaction is made through Escrow system as the payment will initially go to an account of Bangladesh Bank and the money will be sent to the seller only after the buyer confirms receiving the animal.