The sale of sacrificial animals is yet to get momentum in the city's 21 permanent and temporary cattle markets, frustrating thousands of traders and farmers whose investment increased notably this year amid rising cost of rearing cattle.
Adding to their woes, traders at Gabtoli, the biggest cattle market in the city, on Thursday alleged that they were forced to give the market's lease-taker Tk 3,000-18,000 per cow for staying there with their animals on the trading day.
All these have contributed to a surge in cattle prices.
This year, prices of cattle witnessed a 25-35 per cent rise this year than that of last year due to price hike in cattle feed, transportation and other costs, said cattle sellers.
"Supply of cattle has risen as well as the number of customers, but sale is yet to increase," Abdur Gafur, a cattle trader from Shakhipur in Tangail, told the FE at the city's Gabtoli Permanent cattle market.
Mr Gafur has brought 23 cattle on Sunday while could sell only two of them on the day.
He said customers are coming to the market to gather knowledge about prices which have increased notably this year.
"Most of my oxen weigh 6.0 maunds each and I'm charging Tk 0.170-Tk 0.18 million for a cow, he said.
"But customers are offering maximum Tk 0.12 million for each animal which is even below my investment", he claimed.
Belayet Hossain, a construction material trader at Nowabganj Bazar came to the Bochila temporary cattle market to buy an ox.
"I've already visited Hajaribagh market where prices were much higher compared to that of last year. So, I've come to Bochila to source a medium size bull at a reasonable price" he said.
"But price is almost same everywhere," he noted.
He said traders are charging Tk 0.18-0.22 million for a cow weighing 180-200 kgs which is at least 30 per cent higher than that of last year.
Meanwhile, traders and farmers who came from distant districts to Gabtoli cattle market said they were charged Tk 3,000 to Tk 20,000 per cow depending on size for keeping the animals there.
Only buyers are bound to give 5.0 per cent as Hassil or tax during four days of cattle trading.
Md Touhid, a trader from Baliakandi, Rajbari, told the FE that he brought 26 big sized cows and is counting Tk 7,000 for each to stay there between July 6 and 10.
Another cattle rearer from Jashore, requesting anonymity said he has to give Tk 18,000 for one of his big oxen while medium ones will be charged Tk 5000-10,000 each.
The FE tried to contact the leaseholder of Gabtoli market Lutfar Rahman but failed.
Abdul Hashem, manager of Gabtoli market, denied the allegation on charging the money from traders.
"If anyone complains us we will take stern action against such wrong doings", said Mr Hashem at his Gabtoli cattle market office.
He said the big traders from Kushtia, Jashore, Rajshahi and other districts, who have made special arrangements to stay at the market, might have charging the amount from other farmers and cattle traders (who are gathering here to sell cattle).
Contacted, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) chief estate officer Dr Mohammad Mahay Alam, said "This is not possible to charge money from the sellers."
He said only the buyers would give 5.0 per cent Hassil.
DNCC zonal executive officer and executive magistrate Abed Ali, said if the leaseholder or anyone involved in the market management take money from the cattle sellers illegally, the city corporation then has the power to cancel the contract of the leaseholder.
Cattle sale officially began from Wednesday in the city's 19 makeshift markets leased-out by the two city corporations this year.
Apart from the makeshift markets, the sale began at two permanent markets including Gabtoli and Sharulia in Demra earlier.
Farmers said cattle rearing costs have increased by 40-50 per cent this year amid a surge in prices of readymade feed, straw, oil cake, wheat bran, other ingredients and transportation costs.
According to the department of livestock service (DLS), it has a target for trading of 9.7 million cattle across the country this Eid going to be held on July 10.
Of the animals, DLS expects nearly 10 per cent trading in the Dhaka city alone.
