Rain dampens final day of Dhaka cattle markets
Photo Collected
Persistent rain and a surplus of livestock dampened final-day sales at Dhaka’s major cattle markets as Eid-ul-Adha celebrations arrived. Traders at the Diabari, Gabtoli, and North Shahjahanpur markets reported a sharp decline in buyer turnout on Wednesday, with many farmers forced to abandon their designated stalls to display livestock along roadsides in a desperate bid to attract customers.
The persistent downpour left market grounds muddy and inaccessible, discouraging many prospective buyers from venturing deep into the stalls. Farmers who had traveled from across the country expressed significant frustration, noting that the combination of poor weather and lukewarm demand had forced them to sell animals at cost price or risk returning home with unsold stock. While small to medium-sized cattle saw some movement, large, premium-priced animals remained largely unsold as of Wednesday evening.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Many traders highlighted a stark disparity between their asking prices and the offers received. In the Diabari market, some farmers reported receiving offers nearly half of what they had requested for their prize animals. For instance, a 1,100-kilogram bull nicknamed “Tangailer Manna,” priced at 1.2 million taka, drew bids of only 800,000 to 850,000 taka. Similarly, a 1,219-kilogram bull named “Badshah” failed to reach its 1.2 million taka asking price, attracting bids capped at 750,000 taka despite a promotional offer of a free goat with the purchase.
Financial losses loomed large for several vendors. Raviul Islam, a trader from Faridpur who brought 150 cattle to the Diabari market, stated that even with aggressive pricing, nearly 30 of his animals remained unsold. Another trader, Mesbah Uddin at North Shahjahanpur, noted that buyers were offering nearly 40% less than the prices quoted just 24 hours prior. Even those who managed to clear most of their stock described the market conditions as exceptionally poor compared to previous years.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Despite the widespread disappointment among sellers, some buyers found the market correction favorable. Nazarul Islam, a shopper in Uttara, managed to secure a six-maund bull for 160,000 taka, noting that the same animal would have likely cost over 200,000 taka only a day earlier.
While the majority of high-end livestock struggled to find buyers, some transactions did materialize under pressure. Habib Khan, who brought a massive 40-maund bull named “Samrat Babu” to the Gabtoli market with an original asking price of 3.2 million taka, ultimately settled for 1.2 million taka late Tuesday night. As the holiday officially commenced, the scene at the capital’s markets reflected a broader trend of cautious consumer spending and the logistical challenges posed by the volatile weather.
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