Crowds swell at Rajshahi’s largest cattle market ahead of Eid-ul-Azha

Rajshahi’s largest cattle market, City Hat, has turned into a major hub of activity ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, with thousands of buyers, traders and farmers flocking to the market to buy sacrificial animals.

Like previous years, the market is witnessing a heavy influx of cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep of both local and foreign breeds, as demand for healthy locally raised cattle continues to grow across the country.

Market authorities said this year’s Eid market has expanded further due to rising consumer preference for locally reared animals. Buyers from Dhaka, Khulna, Rangpur and other districts are visiting Rajshahi, attracted by the quality of meat and comparatively affordable prices of locally raised cattle.

A visit to the market showed that small local cows are selling between Tk 70,000 and Tk 100,000, medium-sized cattle between Tk 120,000 and Tk 200,000, while larger cows are priced from Tk 250,000 to Tk 400,000. Buffaloes and standard-sized cattle are being sold for Tk 30,000 to Tk 180,000, while goats and sheep range from Tk 8,000 to Tk 35,000.

Traders said crowds and sales volumes are increasing every day as Eid approaches. To manage the seasonal rush, the Rajshahi City Corporation has approved eight temporary cattle markets across the city. Currency screening machines have also been installed to prevent circulation of counterfeit notes.

City Hat leaseholder Atikur Rahman Kalu said local farmers have brought a record number of animals to the market this year. Although the market usually operates every Sunday and Wednesday, trading activity has intensified daily ahead of Eid.

According to the Rajshahi District Livestock Office, a total of 466,196 sacrificial animals have been prepared in the district for this year’s Eid-ul-Azha. The figure includes more than 100,000 cows and buffaloes, alongside 342,753 goats.

Farmers, however, expressed concern over rising cattle feed costs, warning that prices may remain slightly higher this season. They also urged authorities to stop the illegal entry of Indian cattle, saying it puts pressure on local market prices.