For nearly one decade, Mr Indrajeet, a pigeon enterprenure in the capital`s Gulistan area, has been his maintaining family by selling pigeons. He has seen all manners of ups and downs — Covid-19 lockdown, inflation and other financial crises that sent prices tumbling.
But, I have never seen a crisis quite like this time as pigeon sell is seeing a sharp fall, said Mr Indrajeet. "I used to earn Tk 4000-5000 by running the business just four to five months ago. But, nowadays I barely manage to sell only a pairs of pigeons."
"I have three children and with such small earning I`m facing difficulties in maintaining my family, especially the education expenses of the kids. The entire situation went out of my grip as I cannot quit this business overnight and start a new one. So, I`m trying to cope up with the adverse situation with the hope that things will get better soon," added the enterprenure.
Like Indrajeet, dozens other traders have shared the same sad story with thereport.live. They said they are facing multiple problems as prices of pigeon feed went high and onthe other hand the sell experienced a sharp fall.
They said as prices of essentials went up, none is buying pigeons these days as buying food is mire important than keeping animals or birds as pet.
One Mamun, who runs his shop in Katabon area, said: "Pigeons live on wheat and mustard seeds. Now, we buy one kg wheat at Tk50 and mustard seeds at Tk150. Who would count extra money nowadays to feed birds? "
"We used to earn nearly Tk50,000 just some six months ago and now somehow are trying to manage only Tk7,000 for paying shop rent," he added.
While visiting one of the biggest pigeon markets in the capital’s Mirpur area this Friday, thereport.live found that only a few people are buying pigeons, birds and other pets.
Alauddin Mollah, who has been running his business for last seven year, said: "We used to sell a pairs of Bazigar pigeons at Tk800 which fall down to Tk300. Not only Bazigar, the prices of all types of pigeons and birds fell to half in last six months."
Contacted, Aqua and Pets Association President Atiar Rahman told thereport.live that the prices of imported birds and pets depends on the rise and fall in dollar value. "As dollar value went high, the prices of pets and their feeds went up. On the other hand, due to price hike, people are not buying pets. The situation will improve once dollar price falls."
