Rabat – Stakeholders are warning that a looming cattle shortage in Chattogram could drive prices beyond the reach of ordinary consumers during the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha 2026.

Over the past 18 months, more than 500 cattle farms have closed across the district, citing political instability, restricted access to bank loans, skyrocketing feed prices, and rising incidents of cattle theft. The closures have triggered fears of a supply crisis just weeks before the festival.

📊 Demand vs. Supply Gap

• Demand: 818,681 sacrificial cattle
• Available stock: 783,151
• Deficit: ~35,000 cattle

Production has also shown a steady decline, dropping from 852,359 in 2024 to 842,165 in 2023, signaling long‑term challenges for the livestock sector.

🚨 Farmers Under Pressure

Md Delowar Hossain, owner of NDR Agro Farm in Sitakunda, once managed 100 cattle but now has only 16. He blames global volatility, soaring feed costs, electricity bills, and labor expenses for the collapse.

“Costs have gone out of control, and a large portion of my capital is already gone. I feel at a dead end,” he said.

At Patiya Haji Agro Farm, SM Jokael’s herd has shrunk from 100 cattle in 2021 to just 4–6 today. Staff numbers fell from 10 to one. He points to wheat bran prices rising from Tk25–30 to Tk70 per kg and soybean reaching Tk80–85, alleging syndicate manipulation is worsening losses.

🏢 Institutional Weakness

Farmers complain of:

• Limited vaccine supply
• High procurement costs
• Weak upazila‑level support
• Unequal access to loans, with stimulus packages favoring politically connected “big fish”

📉 Official Data

District livestock officials confirm that Chattogram had around 12,500 farms, of which nearly 500 have shut down in 18 months. Many farms established under the previous Awami League government collapsed after political changes forced owners to flee.

Meanwhile, cattle theft has surged in Sitakunda, Patiya, and Anwara, pushing marginal farmers to sell off livestock and abandon farming altogether.

🐂 Government Response

District Livestock Officer Mohammad Alamgir acknowledged the shortfall but assured that supplies from Bogura, Dinajpur, Kushtia, and hill districts would cover the gap.

“We provide advice and cooperation to those willing to start farming so they can move forward. The sector naturally moves through cycles of rise and decline,” he said.

📅 Eid-ul-Adha Outlook

Despite optimism from officials, stakeholders remain concerned that cattle prices will surge, leaving ordinary consumers struggling to afford sacrificial animals.