Sale of sacrificial animals through online marketplaces is on the rise amid a growing risk of coronavirus infection in crowded cattle markets in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

To avoid infection risk, both the sellers and buyers are preferring online platforms to traditional cattle markets ahead of Eid-ul-Adha.
In the last two days, since the start of sales, the traditional cattle markets in the capital have been witnessing a low turnout of buyers while online marketplaces are reporting a huge surge in sales.

Just three days before Eid, the flow of cattle in the traditional markets is much lower than any previous years.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have decided to allow only 10 makeshift cattle markets in Dhaka city ahead of Eid-ul-Adha.

Five makeshift cattle markets under DNCC include the ones in Uttara Bindaban, Kaula Shialdanga, Uttarkhan Moinartech, Vatara Sayeednagar and Dumni adjacent to Purbachal Bridge.

Under DSCC, cattle markets have been set up in Shahjahanpur Moitri Songho Math, Hazaribag Leather Technology College Math, Postogola Shoshan Ghat, Kamalapur Little Friends Club, Aftabnagar, Meradia Bazar, Dania College Math, Dupkhola Math, open places adjoining Dholaikhal Truck Terminal, Amulia Model Town and Rahmatganj Khelar Math.

During a visit to the cattle markets in Kamalapur Little Friends Club and Uttar Shahjahanpur Moitri Songho Math, the turnout of buyers was found to be very low.
Shariful Islam, a lessee of Dumni Haat under DNCC, said, “On Tuesday, there was almost no sale.”

Many buyers said this year they would prefer online platforms to traditional markets for buying sacrificial animals amid the coronavirus pandemic.  They also said the online platforms are proving a wide range of additional services to make things easier for the buyers.   

Online platforms like Amar Food, Khasfood, Prakritik Krishi Biponon Kendro, Priyo Shop and Bikroy are selling sacrificial animals by uploading pictures, video and related information on cattle like cow, goat, sheep, buffalo and camel to attract buyers.

Mohammad Ullah, a resident of capital’s Mirpur, bought his sacrificial cow from Prakritik Krishi Biponon Kendro at Tk 90,000.

“I ordered the cow though an online market. The service provider delivered the cow to my home,” he said.

Delwar Jahan, a farmer and a co-ordinator of Parkritik Krishi Andolon said, “We are getting good response from buyers this year. We usually sell cattle online and offer home delivery service.”

Imran Hossain, president of Bangladesh Dairy Farmers’ Association, and also the owner of Sadeeq Agro, said their online sales have increased by four times than last year amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Ecommerce Association of Bangladesh (E-Cab) has come forward with the digital Haat concept to facilitate sales of sacrificial animals through online platforms amid the corona pandemic. Government’s Information and Communication Technology division facilitated the initiative under the Food for Nation programme.

E-cab General Secretary Abdul Wahed Tomal said online sales of cattle saw a ‘significant growth’ this year.

“E-commerce has gained people’s trust as a convenient and safer way to buy and sell any product including cattle amid the pandemic. Hundreds of companies are now selling sacrificial animals on digital platforms. Besides, many logistic companies are helping farmers to deliver cattle to customers,’ Tomal explained.