The livestock department here has set up a total of 157 traditional and makeshift cattle market in all ten districts of the division to sell the sacrificial animals ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha.
Cattle traders already started to bring sacrificial animals to the markets from their farms as four days have left to celebrate the Eid.
All district Livestock departments in association with the district administrations have set up the cattle markets which will run till morning on Eid day.
Of the 157 traditional and makeshift cattle markets, at least 22 including KCCs Zoragate cattle market have been set up in Khulna while 27 in Bagerhat, 15 in Satkhira, 21 in Jashore, 22 in Jhenaidah, 18 in Magura, 6 in Narail, 16 in Kushtia and 10 in Chuadanga and Meherpur each.
Talking to BSS, Director of Khulna Divisional Livestock Department Dr. Nurullah Md Ahsan said the cattle markets have been set up at all 60 upazilas in 10 districts and Khulna City Corporation (KCC).
A total of 136 medical teams have already been formed to provide service to the people coming to the cattle markets.
“The demand for sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha could be met with almost locally-reared livestock,” Ahsan said.
Besides, Khulna City Corporation (KCC) will manage and monitor the Zoragate cattle market by installing CCTV cameras, setting up the medical team and fake note identifying machine under the supervision and management of Bangladesh Bank, said Sanjida Begum, Chief Executive Officer of KCC.
While talking to BSS, Ibrahim Mia, a cattle farm owner in Bagmara village under Rupsha upazila said the price of cattle feed has increased several times.
As a result, the cattle prices will be higher than last year, he said.
Sources said a total of 16, 19,417 sacrificial animals have been reared locally against the demand of 11, 06,532 which is a surplus of 5, 12,885 in 10 districts.
The sacrificial animals include cows of 5, 62,344, buffaloes of 6,654, goats of 10, 00,047, sheep of 49,525, and others 847. (BSS)