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Dhaka, June 6, 2025 – With Eid-ul-Adha just around the corner, the capital city of Dhaka is bustling with last-minute preparations for the festival, particularly the purchase of sacrificial animals. However, cattle markets across the city, including Gabtoli, Tejgaon, Shahjahanpur, Shonir Akhra, and Basabo, are facing a significant shortage of small and medium-sized cattle, leaving many buyers disappointed.
According to a report by Dhaka Post, while the markets were crowded with buyers on Friday morning, many returned empty-handed as the supply of smaller cattle failed to meet demand. By mid-morning, stalls designated for small and medium-sized cattle in several markets were already empty. Buyers expressed frustration over the lack of availability and the high prices of the few animals left.
Naimul Islam, a buyer from Mogbazar who visited the Shahjahanpur and Gabtoli markets, said, “My budget is 90,000 taka. Last year, I got a good medium-sized cow within this range. This year, I couldn’t find any small or medium-sized cattle in either market.”
Imdadul Haque from Rampura echoed similar sentiments, stating, “There’s no shortage of large cattle, but for middle-class buyers like us, they’re unaffordable. The ones we want are simply not available.”
While large cattle are abundant in the markets, they come with hefty price tags—often ranging from 5 to 6 lakh taka or more—making them unattractive to most buyers. Sellers, on the other hand, defend the high prices, citing the significant costs involved in raising large cattle.
Abu Rayhan, a cattle farmer from Mymensingh, explained, “I’ve been raising a large cow for three years. The cost of feeding and medical care is substantial. If I don’t get a fair price, it’ll be hard to sustain this business in the future.”
As the markets near closing time, some sellers are offering slight discounts, while others are holding out for better deals in the final hours. The markets are filled with the usual hustle of bargaining and haggling, but many buyers are left fatigued, moving from one market to another in search of their preferred cattle.
Sellers report that while cattle are still arriving from various parts of the country, the supply of small and medium-sized animals remains critically low compared to demand. To address this, some cattle are being transported between markets to balance availability.
With Eid approaching, buyers are increasingly adopting a “take what’s available” mindset. Those who find suitable cattle are purchasing them despite slightly higher prices, while others lament the limited scope for bargaining in the current market conditions.
AI/MR
