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Economy
May 25, 2026
Analyzed by GPT OSS 120B

Cattle market empties as fear grips Eid preparations in India’s West Bengal

AI Summary
A week before Eid al‑Adha, the Dhulagarh cattle market outside Kolkata stood almost empty as traders feared new restrictions on cattle slaughter. The BJP‑led state government’s strict enforcement of a 1950 law has driven sellers into loss, halted beef sales and sparked broader communal tension.

Empty stalls at Dhulagarh: Eid traders face a deserted market

Less than a week before Eid al‑Adha, the sprawling Dhulagarh cattle market on Kolkata’s outskirts looked deserted. Hundreds of cattle remain tied to bamboo poles while traders huddle under tin shades, waiting for buyers who never arrive.

Political crackdown triggers market shutdown

After the BJP won power in West Bengal on May 6, new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered strict enforcement of the 1950 law that bans public cattle slaughter without a government certificate. The rule, previously lax under Marxist and centrist rule, now requires animals to be over 14 years old and slaughtered only in designated municipal facilities.

Financial losses mount for traders and meat sellers

  • More than 200 head of cattle sit unsold, each unsold animal costing a seller roughly 5,000 rupees (≈ $53).
  • Beef prices have plunged from 400 rupees per kilogram to as low as 150 rupees (≈ $1.70).
  • One Muslim trader, known as Sundor, borrowed 1 million rupees against his mother’s jewellery to stock cattle for the festival.
  • Licenced beef shops report a 60‑70 % drop in daily sales, forcing many to close by mid‑afternoon.

Broader impact on West Bengal’s meat industry and communal relations

The crackdown has rippled beyond the market. Restaurants such as The Burger Shop have halted beef burgers, citing police pressure on suppliers. Muslim‑run meat shops report dwindling footfall, and street‑prayer gatherings have been discouraged by newly elected BJP legislators, heightening communal anxiety ahead of the festival.

Outlook: Uncertainty for Eid trade and future policy shifts

With the election‑year atmosphere still volatile, traders fear prolonged loss of income and possible defaults on high‑interest loans. Unless the state relaxes enforcement or provides compensation, the traditional Eid livestock trade could remain suppressed, reshaping West Bengal’s rural‑urban economic linkages for years to come.