Dhaka Bureau: The beef price of Tk 650 per kg will be effective from Thursday (December 7) in the Dhaka (North and South) City Corporation area.
Earlier, this price was finally decided in a meeting of the Meat Traders Association and Dairy Farm Association in Mohammadpur, the capital, on Wednesday night.
President of the Dairy Farm Association, Imran Hossain, said, “Meat worth 75 thousand crore rupees is sold annually. Another 75 thousand crores worth of animals are bought and sold during Eid al-Adha. All in all, the meat trade is worth over one and a half lakh crores of rupees a year.
He also said, “It will be sold at 650 taka per kg with conditions. One kilogram of meat will contain 750 grams of meat, 200 grams of bones, and 50 grams of fat, so no one has to be deceived by buying it.
Rabiul Alam, Secretary General of the Meat Traders Association, said, “The City Corporation withdrew from fixing the price of meat in 2019. That year, the price of meat was 500 taka per kg. After that, the price of meat increased every year. This year, the buyer has to pay 800 taka to buy a kilogram of meat.
Gholam Mortaza Montu, President of the Meat Traders Association, blamed himself for the chaos in the meat market and said, “It will take time to ensure a single price across the country.” However, beef will be sold at Tk 650 from Thursday (today) for the next 1 month, i.e., until January 7. Then the price will be determined every month.
He also said, ‘They will lose if they sell meat at 600 taka per kg. Because the price of domestic cow meat is 28 thousand, and in the case of farm cows, 25–26 thousand. We have a 60 percent domestic and 40 percent farm cow supply.
On Wednesday evening, it was seen on the ground in the Malibagh market, where the price of beef was Tk 700–750 per kg. In this context, meat seller Nazmul Hossain said, “If the price of meat is to be determined, the government should determine the price of cows.” Because if we can’t buy cheap cows, how can we sell them? At present, we have to buy meat for 700 rupees per kg.
Claiming that the price of meat should be the same across the country, Sajeev, another businessman, said, “Price determination should be done on a monthly basis.” because the price of cows increases and decreases every month.
Meanwhile, demanding the import of cows, Khalil said, “Big farmers do not sell cows without sacrifice.” We have to sell farmers’ cows. Therefore, the price can be reduced if cows are imported.
