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Cattle markets in Dhaka city did not see an expected rush of customers even on Tuesday, just three days ahead of Muslims' second-biggest Eid-ul-Azha festival.
While cattle traders took a 'wait-and-see' strategy to get good prices, customers also keenly observed market trends on the day.
Traders said this year's customer behaviour is different as they have been experiencing a lower number of window shoppers at early stage of haats (market) in fear of coronavirus.
City-dwellers usually start buying sacrificial animals two days before Eid, as many tenants face difficulty in feeding and keeping the purchased cows and goats.
Mesbah Uddin, a hasil (tax) collector at Aftabnagar Haat, some 1.5 kilometres off Rampura Bridge, said cattle-laden trucks from across the country are still entering the haat.
Buying and selling will reach their peak by Thursday afternoon as customers are waiting for last-moment sale this year, he hoped.
"Usually, we visit cattle haat several times before buying a desired bull, but this year, we've decided to buy an animal at one go," said Badda resident Tamzid Raihan.
More than enough animals are expected in the haat this time as many may cut budget or prefer not to perform qurbani (sacrifice) for money worries, he added.
About possibility of poor sacrifices, cattle trader Mohammad Shahin from Jhenidah told the FE, "Because of the pandemic, I collected a reduced number of cows from livestock herders."
He along with three other seasonal traders brought 25 small and medium-sized bulls and oxen, with their asking price starting from Tk 60,000 to Tk 135,000.
"But it seems we won't be able to sell all the cattle this year," Mr Shahin said citing less enthusiasm from buyers.
Trader Md Siraz from Kushtia displayed 17 of his cows for last three days at Meradia Haat near Banasree.
He only sold a medium ox weighing 5.5 to 6.0 maund at Tk 125,000 on Tuesday afternoon.
Abdul Matin, a Malibagh businessman who purchased the cow, said he along with his qurbani partners came to see cows before buying during end sale but they found a desired animal within budget.
At both haats, most visitors were seen wearing facemask. Even some wore gloves before entering the outlets, although some looked reluctant to comply with the health safety guideline.
To this effect, magistrates from bifurcated Dhaka north and south city corporations also started conducting mobile courts at different haats on the day.
Mobile courts also fined many visitors and traders at haats for not wearing mask.
Volunteers deployed by leaseholders were also seen shouting on loudspeakers telling people to wear mask and gloves all the time during their stay there.
Meanwhile, the central bank issued on Tuesday a circular allowing scheduled banks to keep their braches adjacent to cattle haats open for an extended period.
Accordingly, banks near haats in Dhaka metropolitan area can continue transactions until 8:00 pm instead of 4:00 pm until July 30. Such banks on July 31, when the government holiday will start, will also be able to keep open under special arrangements from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
The Bangladesh Bank also suggested that banks set up temporary booths on cattle haat premises to ensure safety to the traders.