Dhaka: The city dwellers who bought sacrificial animals on Monday, just a day before Eid-ul-Azha, apparently won the test of their nerves, as the cattle markets witnessed a sharp price fall amid good supply till the eleventh hour.

After visiting different city cattle markets, including Gabtoli, Aftabnagar, Meradia, Pallabi Eastern Housing, Bhasantek-Mirpur-13 and Khilkhet Banorupa markets, it was seen that there were good stocks of cattle. But, the number of buyers was less compared to the last two days.

Talking to UNB, the buyers voiced satisfaction over the low prices, while the traders their disappointment over the fall of prices of cattle as the time for their long-awaited business was running out.

They said the price of a small to medium-sized cow fell by Tk 10,000-15,000 and the price of an all-sized goat by Tk 2,000-4,000 while that of a big-sized cow dipped subsequently due to its very poor demand.

‘I visited different cattle markets on Sunday, but did not buy any expecting the prices to fall today. My assumption turned true as I bought a cow today at Tk 54,000 which is around Tk 10,000 less compared to Sunday’s market price,’ Aninda Kamal told UNB at Aftabnagar market.

Jahangir Alam, a resident of Mirpur area, bought a cow at Tk 43,000 from Pallabi Eastern Housing market. ‘Such cattle were sold in between Friday and Sunday at 60,000 to Tk 65,000. I think today’s cattle prices are even lower compared to last year’s.’

A cattle trader, Imran Hossain, who came from Mynmensingh with 18 cattle at the same market, said he sold 14 of them by Sunday at high prices. ‘I sold another one today at Tk 45,000 though customers had offered Tk 55,000 for it on Sunday. As the number of buyers looks to be less than the cattle supply, I’m now selling those at a throw away prices.’

Hasan Ali who brought 20 cows to Gabtoli market from Kushtia, said, ‘I sold 18 cows by Sunday at good prices. But, I’ sold the rest two today even less than my purchased prices.’

Abul Hashem, a private bank official, said he bought a goat at Tk 7,000 from Bhasantak-Mirpur-13 cattle market, but the same-sized sacrificial animal was Tk 10,000 minimum a couple of days before.

Sekandar Ali who bought seven big-sized cows from Bogra at Aftabnagar market said he sold three of them at moderate prices by Sunday.

He said a very few customers are coming to buy such cattle. Pointing at a healthy ox, he said, ‘Some customers had offered me Tk 4 lakh for it earlier. But, today no one is offering more than Tk 2 lakh.’

The same scenario was prevailing in almost all the city cattle markets.

Some cow traders alleged that they are not getting fare prices as the supply of Indian cattle marked a rise over the last two days.