850,000 cattle are ready for sacrifice in various upazilas and city corporation areas in Chittagong. Animal production has increased 3 times in the last 9 years as people from different professions have come forward to raise animals. Already, selling of animals has started in different farms. There is no need to import any animals as there are 22 lakh sacrificial animals compared to the nationwide demand, said the director general of the Directorate of Livestock.

The demand for sacrificial animals in the city is 8 lakh 85 thousand 765. Among them, 5 lakh 26 thousand 475 cows, 71 thousand 365 buffaloes, 1 lakh 95 thousand 783 goats, 58 thousand 692 sheep and 88 other animals.

8 lakh 52 thousand 259 cattle are ready for sacrifice in small and big farms in the district. As a result there is a shortage of 33 thousand 406 animals. The difference between supply and demand is now only 3 percent. But in 2015, the production of cattle in Chittagong was only 320 thousand. In other words, cattle production has increased 3 times in 9 years
Director General of Animal Resources Department. Md. Rayazul Haque told this reporter that there are more than 12,000 cattle farms in Chittagong. Off-farm and individual animal husbandry has reduced the dependence on exotic animals for sacrifice. Sacrifice needs are being met with domestically produced animals.

Basically every year there is a shortage of some animals. Then the demand was met by bringing animals from other districts. This year too, the shortage will be met by bringing animals from the neighboring districts of Rangamati, Khagrajhari and the northern part of the country.
Currently, animal fattening process is going on in the farms. Farmers are hoping to get good prices for animals as the import of animals from abroad has stopped. They hope to sell all the animals before the sacrifice.

Assistant Livestock Officer Matiur Rahman told this reporter that this year the demand for sacrificial animals will be met with local production. Animal production increased due to all kinds of support given to the farmers.

Housewife Saleha Khanam said, “The price of animals is excessive. Also, the price of meat cooking equipment is several times higher than last year. We are middle class people. I still don’t understand whether I can make the sacrifice or not.