With Eid-ul-Azha set to be celebrated on June 17, the cattle markets in Chandpur district are buzzing with traders and sellers, eagerly preparing for the festive occasion. The excitement is palpable as the district comes alive with the sights and sounds of bustling cattle markets. Despite a reported shortage of 20,000 cattle, the District Livestock Department assures that the supply will meet the demand. According to Dr. Jotirmoy Bhoumik, the district livestock officer, most of the demand for sacrificial animals has been fulfilled from local farms. A total of 61,489 sacrificial animals have been prepared across 3,269 cattle farms in the district, supplemented by cattle arriving from other parts of the country. SC upholds HC order disallowing cattle market at Aftabnagar Amidst this lively backdrop, two bulls have stolen the spotlight. In Nathora village, in Hajiganj upazila, "Sultan," a majestic black bull weighing 800 kg, has become the talk of the town. Reared by Ali Ahmed, a local school teacher, Sultan has drawn crowds from far and wide. Ali is asking for Tk 8 lakh for this impressive specimen. Equally captivating is "Raza," a black and white bull weighing 1,000 kg, from Rari Kandi village in North Matlab upazila. Owner Elias Dewan, a businessman, has nurtured Raza with a natural diet for several years. "It is impossible to bring Raza to the cattle market; no one can control him. I've been on guard all night. He was born on the farm about two and a half years ago from a Friesian breed cow," Elias shared. The daily feeding routine includes paddy husk, grass, pulse, maize flour, rice, oil cake, raw banana, carrot, apple, and other fruits, costing Tk 800 per day. Elias is also asking for Tk 8 lakh for Raza, who enjoys the comfort of two electric fans and twice-daily baths. In Faridganj upazila, "Zayed Khan," another massive bull weighing 25-30 maunds, has been raised by Amir Hossain. Priced at Tk 15 lakh, Zayed Khan has been a four-year labor of love for Amir, who, like Elias, prefers to keep his prized bull away from the crowded markets. No cattle market at Aftabnagar this year as HC stays leasing process  

A festive mood looks across Khulna city centring the Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festivals of the Muslim community which is expected to be held on July 10, as cattle farmers started to display their animals at markets. Sources said the concerned authorities have already begun to set up makeshift markets for displaying animals in different areas of Khulna. However, sale of cattle at makeshift markets Jhoragate and Fulbarigate Balurmath, two largest makeshift markets, will begin from July 03. On the other hand, sale and buy at some outside areas of Khulna namely Satkhira, Tala, Atharomile, Chuknagar, Shahpur, Jiyala, Anduli have already started. Talking to buyers and sellers, this correspondent found that demand by customers for local cows in small and medium size is so high. Customers are reluctant to buy large cows,  bringing allegations against the farmers that they have been farming foreign-species cows by feeding medicine for bagging much profit within a short time; he said referring to the customers. Contacted, several cattle farmers of  Andulia Shahapur of Dumuria zone, they said the demand for local sacrificial animals increased several times in the last few years due to the halt in import of Indian animals through borders. Besides, the government has taken several initiatives and given opportunities to the cattle farmers in a bid to increase production of animals at root-level, they said.  The farmers informed that many people are getting involved in cattle farming especially for sacrificial animals due to high demand for local cattle. READ: Over 4,400 Eid cattle markets will be set up across the country:Home Minister Farmer Rabiul Islam told the UNB that buyers from different parts of Khulna started visiting his farm ahead of the eid every day. He, however, observed that the buyers are levelling a lower price compared to the market value. The price of cattle-feed is so high compared to any previous time. Seller Abdur Rahim hailing from Andulia area said that he brought three cows in medium size while buyers were pricing low compared to the market. He said they invested a good amount of money for rearing cattle as price of cattle-feed including hay and others.    “Our labour will go in vain if we don’t get a reasonable price by selling the cattle”, he said.  On the other hand, buyer Hafizul Islam said that it will be tough for him to buy a cow alone as the market value of the sacrificial animals is so high compared to the last year. He claimed that a seller is asking Tk 140,000 for a cow of the size that was sold at Tk 1 lakh last year. Traders charge high price compared to the market as they display cattle as middleman after buying from villages, he alleged.

Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, Kalo Manik is hogging the limelight in Khulna's Rostompur village. Kalo Manik isn't any other ordinary bull, technically a steer, a neutered male popular for its meat -- the 7ft tall cattle weighs around 32 maund. Read:Cattle farmers worry over spread of lumpy skin disease Prabir Mazumdar, its owner, said that he reared the bull in his dairy in Rostompur village of Dumuria upazila's Atalia union along with three more cattle. Prabir, a former expat worker, started his dairy some five years ago after returning to Bangladesh from abroad. “For the last two years, I have been rearing Kalo Manik. He eats around 10kg of food daily, which includes wheat bran, rice bran, maze, dried hay and raw grass," he said. Read: Sher Khan may trigger bull run in Kushtia cattle market Everyday locals throng Prabir’s dairy to catch a glimpse of the big bull. Enamul Gazi, a local, said, "I was curious to see the bull with my own eyes.”    Dr Mahmuda Sultana, upazila livestock officer said, “Enough sacrificial animals are available in the upazila. However, farmers are a bit worried about getting good prices.”

Monwara Begum’s five-year journey from being a homemaker to a successful entrepreneur began with three cows. Her dream journey began in 2016 when she convinced her husband to buy the cows to get milk to meet the family’s requirements.   Read: Over 90 lakh cattle sacrificed this year on Eid-ul-Azha: Livestock Ministry A small cowshed was made for the cattle at her Sreepur village in Boalkhali upazila of the district. Five years down the line, that cowshed has been replaced by a bigger “Pure Dairy Farm” of 31 cows. “Five years ago we bought the three milch cows just to meet the milk requirement of our family,” said Monwara. “Then I started selling the surplus milk to neighbours.” Read Dumuria farmers dump paddy, switch over to vegetable farming

Markets for sacrificial animals officially opened in the capital city on Saturday, but their arrivals are very slow as huge tailbacks on highways and ferry terminals  stranded hundreds of cattle-carrying trucks for hours. The delayed arrivals may cause a shortage of cattle in the markets and push the prices up at the last moment, said traders talking to the UNB correspondent.   Over 500 trucks carrying cattle and goods were found waiting for five to 10 hours to cross River Padma due to heavy traffic at Banglabazar-Shimulia route, according to UNB local correspondent on Saturday afternoon. Though trucks from various districts in the south are waiting to cross, cattle traders have complained that more private vehicles are getting priority to board the ferries. Read: Atiqul warns stern legal action for Covid rule violation in cattle markets The long agonising wait on board the trucks in intense heat is making many animals sick. Traders reported the death of 25 cattle because of their being stranded on not-too-comfortable trucks amid hot sun and occasional rains. The traders said it is taking 10 to 12 hours to get a ferry to cross the river which is time-consuming and making the cattle sick.

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam on Saturday said strict legal action would be taken if the hygiene rules and regulations were not followed properly at the sacrificial animal markets. The mayor issued the warning while addressing a meeting of the monitoring team at Gulshan Nagar Bhaban. The 15-member team was formed to scrutinize whether lease conditions for nine cattle markets, including the permanent one, were followed properly. The cattle hats have been set up on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. Also read: Mask-wearing campaign kicks off at cattle markets in 2 cities The team, headed by Councilor of Ward No-19  Md. Mofizur Rahman, comprises 13 Ward councillors and two veterinary officers. The cattle hats have been set up on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. He said each animal market under Dhaka North City Corporation has a mobile court led by one Executive Magistrate in charge of DNCC to ensure compliance with the health rules and regulations  He said Shakti Foundation has provided 200 trained volunteers, 200 vests and a sufficient number of masks at each market. In addition, the leaseholders have provided hand sanitizers and other health care items in all the cattle markets. Also read: 10 cattle markets to be set up maintaining health rules: DNCC Mayor The mayor said that in order to maintain proper social distance in the cattle markets, both buyers and sellers have to wear masks and use hand sanitizers. He said that "DNCC Digital Hat-2021" has been organized to prevent the spread of coronavirus by avoiding physical presence at the cattle markets. Among others, DNCC Executive Officer Md Selim Reza and Deputy Executive Director of Shakti Foundation Imran Ahmed were present at the meeting.

A special “cattle train” left here on Saturday carrying 77  cows and six goats in its inaugural service for markets in the capital city ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, officials said. The special service will run on Chapainawabganj-Rajshahi-Tejgaon (Dhaka) route. Also read: Special cattle trains ahead of Eid-ul-Azha Lawmaker from Chapainawabganj-1 Dr Shamil Uddin Ahmed Shamil inaugurated the train service at Chapainawabganj railway station this afternoon. The cattle wagons – each with 20 cows - will be added to the Mango special train, already operating on the route. Assistant station Master Obaidullah at Chapainawabganj said the Railways ministry has decided to run the special cattle service considering the health hazards of ongoing Covid-19. Also read: PM launches special mango train on Chapainawabganj-Dhaka route Transportation cost for each cow has been fixed at Tk 592 and for goat at Tk 292. The train service will continue until July 19, he added.

Manik and Babu, two giant bulls, are drawing hundreds of curious people to the modest cattle farm of Oli Mia at Maslandapur in Nasirnagar upazila of Bramanbaria district ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the Islamic festival of sacrifice. With less than two weeks before the second biggest religious festival of Muslims, many cattle farms in the country are brimming with the sacrificial animals. Read:Authorities disperse an illegal cattle market in Panchagarh Many people like Oli, reared cattle to sell before the Eid. He has been in the business of rearing cattle for the last four years. Manik and Babu are his two prized possessions at the farm. Oli is asking a price of Tk 22 lakh for the bulls, each containing approximately 25 maunds of meat, as demand for sacrificial animals has increased ahead Eid-ul-Azha.

It's common for celebrities to have fans. But meet Banglar Tiger, who now has more admirers than a human celebrity. Well, Banglar Tiger isn't any other ordinary bull -- technically a steer, a neutered male popular for its meat -- one finds strolling down the roads. But it's a pure Australian-Friesian variety cattle that weighs around 1,000 kg. Read: Authorities disperse an illegal cattle market in Panchagarh And for some reason, this giant steer has grabbed the spotlight in a remote Kurigram hamlet ahead of Eid-ul-Azha -- making news all over the country. The four-year-old steer is owned by Rajikul Islam, a resident of Paschimdebattar village in Kurigram's Rajarhat upazila. The asking price of Banglar Tiger is Tk 4 lakh, but its owner expects a lakh more for the animal. Read Digital Haat and more Qurbani Cow online shops targeting Eid-ul-Azha in Bangladesh "I have decided to sell the steer as it is now suitable for sacrifice. In case the lockdown ends, I'll take Bengal Tiger to a marketplace and auction the animal," Rajikul says. This is despite potential buyers flocking to his house every day.  "Such a giant cattle is usually not seen in the marketplace. So I have come to see him after hearing his story. I was surprised to see that such a giant steer could be raised at home," says Altaf Hossain, one such potential buyer. Read:Authorities permit 3 makeshift cattle markets in Chattagram, set 17 conditions Rajikul says the steer comes with a high cost of ownership. "I spend Tk 400 daily on Banglar Tiger. The bull consumes German grass, rice husk and maize, and is fully vaccinated," he adds. According to Rajarhat Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Jobaidul Kabir, Rajikul gets expert advice from the livestock department. "The good thing is that he has managed to raise the bull successfully," he says. Read:1.5 lac cattle ready for slaughter in Chapainawabganj, but will Covid-19 stand in the way?

Amid an alarming Covid-19 surge, the authorities have allowed only three temporary cattle haats in the port city on seventeen conditions. The cattle markets will be allowed from July12 in Karnaphuli, Saltgola Rail Crossing and Patenga Butterfly Park. Currently, there are three permanent cattle markets—Sagarika, Bibirhat and Postarpar Bazar—in the city. The conditions:  the haats to be installed 100 feet away from the main roads; to pay 20 per cent lease money as revenue, no additional stump for cattle outside the market, ensure health guidelines, ensure hand sanitization while entering or exiting market, maintain social distance, wearing facemasks. READ: Imported cattle seized at Dhaka airport There will be one entrance and one exit point in the cattle market and all must avoid crowds, sources of the local administration said. The haats will be kept under CCTV surveillance and the authorities have been asked to recruit volunteers for ensuring security to the market. Mohammad Nazrul Islam, chief revenue officer of Chattogram City Corporation, said “We have sought approval of installing seven temporary cattle haats but the local administration allowed only three.” READ: Special cattle trains ahead of Eid-ul-Azha Earlier on July 4, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said the government will not allow entry of any cattle from outside the country ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.