One-day meat markets spring up in Dhaka

Makeshift markets for selling meat of sacrificial animals were set up today in various areas of the capital including Mohammadpur, Khilgaon, Elephant Road and Karwan Bazar level crossing.

People, mostly of low-income groups, collected meat distributed by those who sacrificed animals this Eid-ul-Azha, and sold it at low prices to those who could not afford any animal sacrifices.

According to buyers and sellers, many sell in the open market for financial reasons, many for lack of storage space. Some collected 10kg of meat, some 5kg.

Photo: Prabir Das/Star

Around 5:30pm, there was a large crowd in Khilgaon, and in front of the Shia Mosque in Mohammadpur.

Talking to The Daily Star at a market near the Shia Mosque, a buyer at the meat market said he could not afford to sacrifice cattle or buy meat at a higher price. "As it is not possible for me to go door to door to collect meat, I came here to buy meat at a cheap rate without informing anyone at home. My son and daughters are waiting for the meat."

Photo: Prabir Das/Star

Another buyer said that this year, the price of good quality meat is higher than previous years. "I wanted to buy 3kg of meat. However, due to the high price (Tk 800 per kg), I bought two kg of meat."

The buyers and sellers also said low quality meat (mixed with bone and head meat) was being sold at Tk 400 per kg while slightly better meat at Tk 500 and fresh meat at Tk 800 per kg.