Teknaf, Bangladesh: The price of cattle imported from Burma has begun to rise as availability has dropped ahead of the Muslim festival Eid-ul-Adah, said a resident from Shapuri Dip.

Eid-ul-Azah, or Festival of Sacrifice, is generally celebrated by families by sacrificing a sheep, after which portions of the meat are kept for the family and given to relatives and others in need.

Cattle prices have risen steadily over the last six months in Bangladesh because of cases of anthrax poisoning among Bangladeshi cattle, leading to a rise in legal and illegal imports from neighbouring Burma.

“Some cattle are brought to Bangladesh without legal approval,” said a cattle trader, adding that traders from both sides of the border have collaborated ahead of the festival to meet demand.

Residents said that the national elections on November 7 stopped the movement of cattle across the border, further bringing down cattle stocks on the Bangladesh side of the border and pushing prices higher.

“At the beginning of this year, we could buy a medium-sized animal for about 20,000 taka. Now we have to pay 35,000 taka. How are we supposed to sell cattle to customers at such high prices? asked a cattle trader from Shapuri Dip.

A Teknaf resident said many people have become concerned that high prices would prevent them from making the customary sacrifices during Eid-ul-Azah.

“Cattle traders are supplying Burmese cattle at higher prices in northern Cox’s Bazaar to make more profit,” the resident said.

A trader from Maungdaw said on condition of anonymity that officials from Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) have profited as well by allowing smugglers to move cattle across the border for a price.