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