With the Eid-ul-Azha at the doorstep, the cattle markets are crowded in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna district. Especially the Arankola cattle market in the largest Ishwardi municipal area in the north is overflowing with buyers. They are buying the animal of their choice as much as they can. Although there are small and big cows of different sizes in the market, the sellers said that the medium size cows are on the list of buyers' choice.
As Arankola is the largest cattle market in the northern region, cattle traders from different districts and upazilas of the country bring cattle to this market for sale. Tuesdays of the week are the specific days of the market. However, due to Eid-ul-Azha, the market will be open for two days this week, said Mizanur Rahman Runu Mandal, the lessee.
After visiting Arankola cattle market on Wednesday, it was seen that farmers, cattle traders brought a lot of cows. Apart from Ishwardi, cows from different districts and upazilas have been brought to this market for sale. The cows have been lined up in a row under proper management. Buyers are also looking around for cows. The price of a cow weighing four maunds was demanded to be one lakh Tk. If the price of a cow weighing four maund is one lakh, then the price of a cow is 25 thousand Tk and the price per kg is 625 Tk. Talking to cattle sellers, it is known that there are few days left for Eid. Apart from the cattle haat, the activities of the haat will continue for two days next Tuesday and Friday before Eid, said the lessee.
Again, many are not coming to the market and are buying pet cows on different farms and at home. Last Tuesday, Yasin Ali from Lalpur in the neighboring district of Natore came to Arankola Haat to sell three cows. He said he has taken care of three cows for a year and a half. He has also spent a lot of money. He hopes to sell at a higher price in the next market according to the buyers' price even if he does not sell it and he will make a good profit.
Talking to two or three other cattle traders at the market, they said that people are buying sacrificial cows this time as the prices of goods have gone up. Neither big nor very small, buyers are more interested in medium size cows.
Mizanur Rahman Runu Mandal, a lessee of Arankola cattle market, said that a lot of cows are being imported at every market ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. But less is being sold. The reason is that it is not possible for many people to keep cows till the day before Eid, so they are not buying cows before. However, he hopes that people will buy cows according to their needs in the front two markets.
Ishwardi Upazila Livestock Officer. Nazmul Islam said the medical team is working to provide health check-up and medical services to the cattle at Arankola cattle market. Suspicious cows are being examined and treated.
