Around 6,24928 lakh sacrificial animals have been prepared in Sirajganj district ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azja, the second largest festival of the Muslim community.
The animal fattening process has been completed in various farms in the district and already some farmers started selling sacrificial animals in different markets. They are anticipating satisfactory profit.

According to the district Livestock Office, the sacrificial animals have been fattened in 17,134 farms in nine upazilas of the district. All these farms have prepared around 6,24928 lakh domestic and hybrid animals. Among them, there are 1,73,110 lakh bulls, 33,605 oxen, 15,717 cows, 3,681 buffaloes, 60,580 sheep and 3,38235 goats. Most of the cattle farms are situated in the villages of Shazadpur, Enayetpur and Ullapara upazilas.

The Department of Livestock Office said cattle rearing in farms and herds was completed following the natural and organic methods due to the easy availability of raw grass in the district. Due to this, the animals of this region are in high demand across the country.

Farmers are now busy fattening domestic and hybrid cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep. The animals also remain useful around the year due to milk production. These sacrificial animals will be shifted to different parts of the country after meeting the local demand ahead of the festival. The current market value of those sacrificial animals would be approximately Tk2.50 crores.

Many farmers said that the cost of preparing sacrificial animals has increased this year due to higher costs of fodder and medical expenses along with additional electricity costs during the hot summer.
However, many farmers are selling their animals directly from the farm and even if other costs, including feed, are high they still expect to make a profit.
District Livestock Officer Dr Md Omar Faruque said that local farmers normally rear more sacrificial animals than the demand during Eid ul-Azha every year due to the high demand for naturally fattened animals across the country.

The Livestock office has been providing advice and supervision constantly to the farmers to make them beneficial in the cattle trade.
Earlier on 16 May, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdur Rahman attended an inter-ministerial meeting to ensure transports carrying sacrificial animals can enter the capital freely from remote areas.
In a media briefing, he said, there would be no need to animal import this year. If a farmer sells animals, he will not have to pay the charges (hasil) this year, according to UNB report.

The minister said if a farmer wants to take his animal to a distant market for extra profit, he cannot be forced to take it to local markets. In this case, the law enforcement forces, local government units such as municipalities, upazila or union parishads, city corporations will take immediate measures necessary.

Abdur Rahman said that if someone sells an animal on the way to the market, the lease customer cannot force him to pay charges. In the case of buying and selling sacrificial animals, it is advised to make financial transactions in a smart manner instead of using cash. Like last year, this year too, the system of selling sacrificial animals will continue across the country on the online platform.