Eid-ul-Azha
Trading in Eid cattle markets yet to gain momentum
The sale of sacrificial animals is yet to gain momentum at cattle markets across the capital as of Thursday evening, three days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, as the prices of the cattle seem very high this year.
Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in Bangladesh on Sunday.
Though sufficient cattle is available at the markets, traders were seen charging much higher prices for their cattle than last year’s while the customers were bargaining hard expecting that the price may fall in the last two days.
However, cattle market authorities said the sales are likely to mark a sharp rise from Friday as both sides -- customers and traders -- will soften their stances with the passage of time.
Visiting various markets, including Gabtoli, Pallabi Eastern Housing, Kachukhet, Bhatra Sayeed Nagar, Aftabnagar, Kamalapur, Meradia, Khigaon and Jatrabari in the capital on Thursday, UNB correspondents saw a huge number of customers and traders turning up since afternoon amid an adequate supply of sacrificial animals.
The small-sized cows were being sold at unusual prices due to its higher demand among buyers while the big ones were sold at relatively cheaper prices.
“I went to Meradia cattle market today (Thursday) but didn’t buy cattle as the price still looked much higher than last year’s. The price is likely to drop from Friday as the supply of cattle is more than enough at the markets,” Mostak Ahmed, a resident of the city’s Rampura area, told UNB.
Abul Halim, a private service holder, said the buyers this year are asking high prices of the cattle. "I purchased this medium-sized bull for Tk 84 lakh. The same type of cattle was sold at Tk65,000-70,000 last year.”
Anisul Haque, a resident of Jatrabari, said he bought a cow at Tk 75,000 after long bargaining and spending a lot of time and energy. ”Such cattle were sold at best at Tk 60,000 last year.”
He said though the cattle supply is adequate, the traders are charging high prices as they think people will be forced to buy the sacrificial animals at the last stage as most buyers are still testing their nerves.
Pointing at his cattle, another customer Kamrul Islam at Gabtoli cattle market, said “I bought it at Tk 1.4 lakh after a long haggle. Such cattle were sold at around Tk 1.3 lakh last year.”
He said though the prices of the big cattle are comparatively cheaper than small ones, their prices are still much higher than last year’s.
Businessman Aminul Islam, who bought a bull at Tk 1.80 lakh from Aftabnagar cattle market, said the prices of the big-sized cattle are around T10,000 higher this year than last year’s.
Showing the cattle he bought, Islam said the same cow was sold at best at Tk1. 7 lakh last year.
However, traders blamed the high price of cattle feed as the main reason behind the exorbitant prices of the cattle this year.
They said the prices of staple cattle feeds such as wheat bran, rice bran, oil cake, maize, Indian peas and molasses have all increased two to three-fold of late.
Delwar Hossain, a cattle trader who came from Kushtia, said he is worried about suffering huge losses as the sale is very low. “I don’t know whether I will be able to sell all the remaining 10 cattle. I could only sell two cows.”
Mostafa, a cattle trader who came from Gaibandha with 20 cattle to Meradia market, said he has so far sold five of them today. “We’re charging higher prices as we bought those at high prices. Besides, the prices of cattle feed increased sharply. I hope the number of buyers will increase on Friday and we’ll get fair prices for our cattle.”
Kahirul Islam a cattle trader from Pabna who brought 16 cattle to the market, said the demand for big cattle is very low.
Rakib Imran, Director of Gabtoli Cattle Market, said the presence of buyers increased on Thursday but the sales are not satisfactory.
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He said the supply of cattle at their market is still not adequate as many traders are bringing their cattle at the last stage. “I hope the supply of cattle will increase by Thursday night while the sale will get momentum on Friday.”
Miznur Rahman Sabuj, a leaseholder of Aftabnagar cattle market, said the sale is still moderate though there is a huge supply of cattle to their market.
“As only two days are left, we hope the cattle sale will begin in full swing from Friday. Many customers are still observing the market expecting a fall in prices,” he said.
Pallabi Eastern Housing cattle market convener Kamal Hossain said their market witnessed huge customers, but a moderate sale on Thursday. “We hope, it will sharply rise on Friday with fall of cattle prices a bit”
About 1.21 crore animals have been prepared for sacrifice this year in the country, against the demand of 97.75 lakh, according to the Department of Livestock.
On Eid-ul-Azha, more than one crore animals, including cows, buffaloes and goats, are usually sacrificed in the country. But the number of animal sacrifices has been declining since the outbreak of Covid pandemic two years ago.
According to the Department of Livestock, over one crore animals were sacrificed in the country in 2019. The following year, 94 lakh animals were sacrificed. Last year, the figure dropped further.
Up to 4,407 makeshift Eid cattle markets have been set up across the country this year. Ten cattle markets are in the Dhaka North City Corporation area and 12 in the Dhaka South City Corporation area.
Govt issues directives to celebrate Eid maintaining health protocols, austerity
The Religious Affairs Ministry issued several directives regarding celebration of Eid-ul-Azha and offering prayers at Eidgah and mosques considering the overall situation in the country .
The ministry issued a notification in this regard on Thursday.
The ministry requested people not to use lights for decoration during Eid-ul-Azha celebrations
People have been asked to come for Eid prayers with ceremonial wash (Oju) done from respective houses. Authorities have been directed to provide soap, hand sanitizers at the washrooms of Eidgah and mosques to prevent the spread of Covid1-19.
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They must wear masks while attending Eid congregations and cannot use cap, prayer mates kept at Eidgah or mosques, said the notice.
Social distancing and health guidelines to be maintained while performing Eid prayers and they must stand for prayers leaving one row empty, it said.
The ministry also requested the imams and religious leaders to conduct prayer seeking the Almighty’s blessings to protect everyone from the pandemic after the Eid prayers.
Also read: Skyrocketing fodder prices leave cattle farmers fretting ahead of Eid
The religious leaders, imams, mosque governing committees and local administrations have been asked to implement the directives. The ministry has also asked people to follow the guidelines of the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry for sacrificing animals on the Eid day.
Sacrificial animal waste to be removed by 10 pm: LGRD Minister
The waste of sacrificial animals will have to be removed by 10 pm on the day of Eid-ul-Azha , said Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam.
The minister said while talking to journalists after a meeting with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh Country Representative Mr. Yuho Hayakawa at the Ministry on Thursday.
Read: Sacrificial animal waste to be removed within 12 hrs: Atiqul
“From Eid morning sacrificing of animals will begin and disposing of the waste will start immediately after that. Directives have been given to Deputy Commissioners, District Magistrates, local representatives and others concerned to remove the wastes by 7 pm to 10 pm everywhere,” he said.
Tazul Islam urged all to visit cattle markets and celebrate Eid maintaining the health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health as Covid-19 infection rate is increasing in the country.
“One of my instructions was to form a committee of 10 members headed by each ward councilor, which will work on any disaster including Covid . The city corporations have informed that actions have been taken in this regard,” he added.
Read:Skyrocketing fodder prices leave cattle farmers fretting ahead of Eid
Regarding the meeting, Tajul Islam said, “ JICA has expressed interest in financing the construction of Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) sewage treatment plant and building communication between Matarbari coal-fired power plant at Maheshkhali and other areas. They have proposed to complete the two projects in Matarbari by 2025 at a cost of over Tk 6,000 crore”.
Eid-ul-Adha: What to Learn from the Holy Festival of Sacrifice?
Eid-ul Adha is one of the two biggest religious celebtations of the Muslim communities around the world. The day of Eid-ul-Adha occurs on the tenth day of the Islamic lunar calendar's last month, Dhu-al-Hijjah. The festival is held following the completion of the yearly Holy Pilgrimage of Hajj, which is a requirement for all Muslims who meet certain qualifications. The dates of the festivities is based on the sighting of the moon. Stay with us to know the key teachings of the holy Eid-ul-Adha.
What is Eid-ul-Adha?
The celebration of Eid ul-Adha takes place on the tenth day of the last month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar, which is known as Dhu al-Hijjah. This holy celebration occurs following the Holy Hajj, which is an obligation for Muslims who meet particular criteria. Hajj is one of the most significant Five Pillars of Islam, the celebration is contingent on sighting of moon.
To honour Prophet Ibrahim's unwavering commitment to Allah SWT and his willingness to give up his son Ismail as a sacrifice, the holiday of Eid ul-Adha is observed annually. Ismail was about to be sacrificed when Allah SWT intervened and changed him into a sheep instead. The sheep was destined to be killed in lieu of Ismail.
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This mandate from Allah SWT put the Prophet Ibrahim PBUH into a test of his commitment to execute the order of the almighty creator without doubt. As a result, the holiday of Eid-ul-Adha is also known as the festival of sacrifice.
Top 8 Lessons to Learn from the Holy Eid-ul-Azha
Obedience
The holy celebration of Eid-ul-Adha reminds the muslim community of prophet Ibrahim, who followed the order of Almighty Allah-Ta'ala without any doubt or question. One of the two primary takeaways from this historic incident is the spirit of obedience.
Sacrifice
The second thing that may be learned from this incident is the willingness of sacrifice for the creator. Hajrat Ibrahim was ready to give his own son up as a sacrifice to the almighty Allah SWT, which indicates that the prophet put the wish of his creator before his son whom he loved most on earth.
Read Choosing Sacrificial Animal for Qurban: Thing to consider before purchase
This holy ritual teaches muslims to sacrifice their precious things for the sake of Allah SWT. Though sacrificing animals in Qurban Eid, Muslims aim to purify their souls removing the inner greed, gudge, hatred, etc.
Spiritual, Physical, Mental, Financial Exercise
This celebration occurs every year at the end of Haj, the holy pilgrimage of Muslims, a journey in which Muslims spend the best of their mental, spiritual and physical efforts, time and money. On the last day of Hajj, Muslim pilgrims purchase the best animal they can afford, sacrifice it in the name of Allah.
On the holy celebration of Ed-ul-Adha, Muslims, who fulfil the criteria of Qurbani, sacrifice a halal animal. It means that the animal needs to be purchased with halal income which can be considered as financial sacrifice.
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After slaughtering a sacrificial animal, Muslims around the world distribute the meat into 3 shares: one for needy people; another share for relatives, neighbours and the final share for their own family. They also celebrate the occasion by feasting upon it.
By demonstrating that one is able to give up something that one cares deeply about just because Allah commanded it, a believer Muslim can establish a spiritual connection with Allah SWT. Through the process of Qurban on holy Eid-ul-adha, muslims experience physical, and spiritual exercise.
Compassion
In order to make a sacrifice on Eid-Ul-Adha, Muslims must first acquire an animal, which can be a goat, sheep, camel, or cow. Before the celebration, the muslims take excellent care of the sacrificial animals, and allow themselves to get emotionally attached to it.
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A believer Muslim reaches a whole new divine level when he or she sacrifices the animal. This sacrifice is painful for the devotee as he or she has gotten attached to the sacrificial animal and would want to retain it as a pet in order to make a sacrifice in the name of Allah.
They come to understand compassion and realise that animals also need to be given attention and care. It makes their hearts more receptive and teaches them to be kind and show appreciation for Allah's creations.
Generosity
Even if the Muslims are not enthusiastic about the new pet they have acquired on the Eid-ul-Adha, they care about the money they have spent. They could have spent it on something else, but in order to honour Allah SWT, they have decided to spend the money on sacrificial animals. This practice teaches muslims to be generous in the way of Allah. It also teaches not to get too attached to the transient and material things of this world.
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Generosity and willingness to do charity enable the muslims to be more kind and helpful to the people of their respective societies, communities, or countries. Via acts of kindness, compassion, and empathy the Muslims are able to convey their gratitude to Allah SWT.
Boost to Economy
The believer Muslims who fulfil certain criteria, purchase sacrificial animals centering Eid-ul-Adha, as a part of the ritual of sacrifice. They make payment to the sellers, who are mostly shepherds and farmers who earn their livelihood by growing animals to sell on Qurban Eid. This is one of the aspects of the ritual that contributes to the economy.
In this festival of sacrifice, the wealthy Muslims donate meat to the needy people. Thus people who can’t afford to purchase animals might benefit from the sacrifices made by others. In addition to that, the prosperous members of the Muslim society donate some of their money to the less fortunate members. Moreover, in most of the cases, the skin of the animal is given to charity organisations as a donation.
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Social Get-together
People get together for Eid prayer and meet one other, experience a feeling of solidarity with their Muslim brothers, conduct the ritual of sacrifice, and distribute meat among friends and family. This is the social side of the ritual of sacrifice.
When they share the meat with their neighbours, friends, and relatives instead of hoarding it all for themselves, people in the whole Muslim community learn how to care for those around them.
During this festival, the Muslims get together with their loved ones, family members, relatives, and close friends in order to enjoy feasts and share the joy of celebration with one another. It is a wonderful chance for socialising in this digital world where people hardly meet or talk without reasons.
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Brotherhood
On Eid-ul-Adha, the devotee muslims follow the ritual of sharing meat of the sacrificial animal to distressed people. There are many people in the society and community who can’t afford protein all year round. Through this ritual of sharing, the needy people get the opportunity to eat adequate meat.
This lesson of sharing encourages people to increase their level of mutual assistance and collaboration, as well as to experience pleasure through equality, fraternity, and oneness. The teachings of Eid-ul-Adha permeate all aspects of one's life, including personal, familial, social, cultural, political, national, international, and even the otherworldly.
Conclusion
So far, we have discussed what to learn from holy Eid-Ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice. While you spend time taking care of your sacrificial animal and sacrifice it on Qurban Eida, keep all these teachings in mind, thus you may experience particular delight and spiritual fulfilment.
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Skyrocketing fodder prices leave cattle farmers fretting ahead of Eid
With barely three-four days left for Eid-ul-Azha, cattle farmer Azizul Haque is a bit worried. The reason -- he has not been able to fatten naturally the four bulls he has been rearing since last October.
Like him, many small-time farmers in Bangladesh have been struggling to feed their cattle properly since March 2022 as retail inflation has taken a toll on fodder. And most of them are yet to fix a good asking price for the sacrificial animals.
These farmers say that the prices of staple cattle feeds such as wheat bran, rice bran, oil cake, maize, Indian peas and molasses have all increased two to three-fold of late.
Read: Huge crowd at Chuadanga cattle markets; Sales still low
"I may not be able to cash on the growing demand for meat this Eid. This is because I could not spend much on fodder to naturally fatten my bulls ahead of Eid. Retail inflation is really pinching," says Azizul.
Take for instance, maize. Its price has doubled in the past one year -- from Tk 17-18 per kg in 2021 to Tk 33-34 per kg this year. Similarly, wheat bran now costs Tk 60 a kg, up by 100% from last year's price.
Khail (oil cake) was available for Tk 32 a kg and Indian peas for Tk 34-36 per kg in 2021. This year, Khail is being sold at Tk 50 per kg and Indian pea at Tk 55-60 per kg.
Holidaymakers suffer as traffic piles up on parts of Dhaka-Ctg highway
Vacationers heading home four days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha had to suffer through a 10-km long tailback on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway passing through Narayanganj on Wednesday.Massive gridlock was witnessed on the highway at Shimrail, Kanchpur, Madanpur and Meghna area from this afternoon.Hundreds of vehicles got stuck which caused extreme miseries to the drivers and passengers amid scorching heat.A home-bound passenger Faria Rahman said vehicles were moving slowly after crossing the Signboard area. It is taking a long time for the passengers to reach the destination.Meanwhile, some passengers alleged transport owners are charging extra fare.Nabir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) Kanchpur Highway police station, said, “The gridlock was caused by heavy pressure of cattle-laden vehicles as well as home-bound people ahead of Eid.”The highway police has taken various steps to control traffic, including deploying additional police at every turn of the highway, patrolling and not allowing local vehicles on the highway, said the OC.“Due to the extra pressure of the vehicles, people have to wait for a while at a few turning points of the highway causing a tailback. Hopefully it will be normal soon,” he added.Highway police have also evicted illegal establishments and shops on or near the highway to avoid traffic gridlock.
Eid: Motorcycles banned from launches for 10 days
The government has restricted motorcycles from passenger launches during Eid-ul-Azha after banning the two-wheeled vehicles from highways for a week.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority imposed the restriction to make sure passengers do not face trouble while getting on or off the vessels, Jahangir Alam Khan, public relations officer of the shipping ministry, told UNB Wednesday.
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Five Eid congregations at Baitul Mukarram
The Baitul Mukarram National Mosque is scheduled to host five congregations on Sunday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims.
In a statement, the Islamic Foundation said that the first of the five congregations will be held at 7am.
The second will take place at 8am, the third one at 9am and the fourth one at 10am. The last one of the day will be held at 10.45am.
The foundation also fixed Imams and Mukabbirs for the congregations.
The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated in the country on July 10 (Sunday) as the new moon of the Arabic month of Zilhaj was sighted in Bangladesh sky on Thursday.
The decision was made at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee after reviewing information about the sighting of the Jilhaj moon, said Md Abdul Awal Hawlader, additional secretary to the Religious Affairs Ministry.
Also Read: Bangladesh celebrates Eid as pandemic fades
The meeting was held in the office of the Islamic Foundation at Baitul Mukarram with Awal Hawlader in the chair.
Sacrificial animal waste to be removed within 12 hrs: Atiqul
The waste of sacrificial animals will be removed from the streets of Dhaka city within 12 hours, said Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam on Tuesday.
“The city corporation workers are cleaning waste every day and I think 12 hours are enough to remove waste of sacrificial animals,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting in the city’s Gulshan area.
"We have enough manpower and the Eid vacation of the staff and employees has been cancelled for removing waste soon", he said.
Mentioning that there are some designated places in the city to sacrifice animals, Atiqul urged people to assist them to clean the city within 12 hours.
He also directed the councilors and department concerned to ensure health guidelines in the cattle market strictly. ‘No one will be allowed to enter the cattle market without a mask and all should follow health guidelines.”
Besides, digital payment booths have been installed in six cattle markets with 24-hour service under DNCC in a bid to transfer money easily, he said.
Govt hikes rawhide prices ahead of Eid
Ahead of this year's Eid-ul-Azha, the government has hiked the base price of raw cowhide by Tk 7.
Raw cowhide will now cost Tk 47-52 per sq ft in Dhaka and Tk 40-44 outside the capital.
This was announced by Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi after chairing a virtual meeting at the Ministry on Tuesday.
Also read: Benapole: BGB on high alert to prevent rawhide smuggling
Last year, the raw cowhide price was fixed at Tk 40-45 per sq ft in the capital and Tk 33-37 outside Dhaka.
Besides, the minister said, the price of goatskin has been fixed at Tk 18-20 per sq ft across the country, which was Tk 15-17 last year.
However, the price of female goatskin have remained the same at Tk 12-14 per sq ft.
Also read: Govt fixes rawhide prices ahead of Eid-ul-Azha
The Minister emphasised on applying salt on animal hides soon after their sacrifices. “It will be good if people are made aware about applying salt in sermons after the next Jumma prayer,” he said.