Dhaka Beef Sales Surge During Eid al-Adha Despite Traditional Focus on Qurbani Meat

Photo Collected

A+ A A-

Despite millions of animals being sacrificed across Bangladesh during Eid-ul-Adha, the retail demand for beef in urban markets consistently surges rather than declines. As families prepare for festive celebrations, butcher shops across the capital report a significant spike in sales, with the typical purchase volume per customer rising from one or two kilograms to four or five kilograms.

Market vendors highlight that the increased demand is driven largely by households that do not participate in animal sacrifice, as well as the growing demographic of single-person households and students living away from home. According to long-time merchants at Karwan Bazar, these customers rely on commercial meat markets to secure their supply for the holiday. To accommodate this influx, butchers often increase their daily slaughtering quotas; for instance, vendors who usually process one or two cattle per day often raise their output to three or more during the immediate lead-up to the festival.

The trend underscores a shifting landscape in how the holiday is observed, influenced heavily by broader economic pressures. Data from the Department of Livestock Services indicates that the tradition of animal sacrifice is highly sensitive to the country’s financial health. While the number of animals sacrificed saw consistent growth through 2019, reaching a peak of 10.6 million, the subsequent years brought a decline attributed to a series of global and domestic challenges.

Patuakhali Youth Jamaat Leader Charged With Rape and Forced Abortion

Read More

The economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the inflationary pressures triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war, fundamentally altered household spending power. Analysis of livestock data from 2017 to 2025 reveals that political instability and fiscal constraints directly correlate with a reduction in Qurbani participation. After a significant drop during the pandemic, sacrifice numbers fluctuated, eventually falling to 9.13 million in 2025.

Industry experts and government officials maintain that the scale of sacrifice is an accurate barometer of the nation’s economic vitality. As the cost of living continues to impact household budgets, many families are opting to purchase meat from the market to meet their festive requirements rather than undertaking the substantial financial commitment of purchasing and sacrificing a live animal.