HELEMUL ALAM and SHAHEEN MOLLAH

With only two days left before Eid-ul-Azha, cattle markets in Dhaka are yet to pick up full momentum.

Although prices of small and medium-sized bulls have slightly decreased, they remain higher compared to last year.

During visits to three cattle markets -- Gabtali, Kachukhet, and the open space near Dhaka Polytechnic Institute -- yesterday, these correspondents observed that while the number of bulls is sufficient, buyer turnout is still low.

Demand for small bulls is particularly high, but their supply is limited compared to medium and large ones.

Traders remain optimistic that customer numbers will rise starting today morning, as the government holidays begin.

Nurul Alam, a trader from Jamalpur who brought two bulls to the market near Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, said, “I raised this pair of bulls for four years and am asking for 4 lakh takas, but the highest offer I’ve received so far is 2.5 lakh takas.”

Another trader, Mohammad Jahir Khan from Bakshiganj Thana in Jamalpur, brought 18 bulls early yesterday. “I got better offers in my village market but came to Dhaka hoping for more profit,” he said.

Md Mokhles, an employee of BG Press who visited the same market, noted that prices remain high. “A bull that cost 80,000 takas last year is now being sold for 1 lakh taka,” he said.

Mostakim Miah, a resident of Karimganj in Kishoreganj, brought five bulls to the Kachukhet market for the first time. “I raised these bulls for eight to nine months. I’m asking between 1.3 lakh takas and 1.8 lakh takas. Normally I sell at the Karimganj market, but this year I came here hoping for better profit,” he said, adding that he’s aiming for a profit of Tk 10,000 per bull.

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