Cattle markets in Patuakhali are now buzzing with buyers and sellers of sacrificial animals ahead of Muslim religious festival Eid-ul-Azha to be celebrated in the country on August 1.

But the government-stipulated health rules, aimed at checking the spread of Covid-19, are hardly followed in these markets, locally called haats.

Visiting several cattle markets in the district on Thursday and Friday, it was seen that most of the people do not wear mask while maintenance of safe distance remains elusive. Arrangement of washing hands is mostly absent.

Bridge Hat adjacent at Patuakhali town, Sehakathi Hat, Hajir Hat, Botalbunia Hat, Moukaran Hat under Patuakhali Sadar upazila, Badura Hat, Galachipa Hat under of Galachipa upazila, Kalaiya Hat, Baga Hat under Baufal upazila, Deuli-Subidkhali of Mirzaganj upazila are some of the notable haats.

Traders said there is not yet much sale of cattle although the prices are low.

Badura Haat, the largest cattle market in Galachipa upazila, saw thronging of thousands of sellers and buyers who seem to bother least about maintenance of safe distance and wearing mask properly.

There is no arrangement for hand washing or using sanitiser. No awareness campaign was seen on behalf of the market committee.

Abu Hanif of Amkhola village, came to buy cow at Badura Haat.

When asked why he was not wearing mask, he quickly took one from his pocket and put it on the face.

Ismail Hossain from Auliapur village of Sadar upazila came to the market for selling a few cows.

Asked why he did not have a mask, he said, "By the grace of Allah, nothing will happen to us." Afterwards he took a mask out of his pocket and wore it.

​Abdul Motaleb Sikder, a lessee of Deuli Subidkhali Haat, said, "Everyone is talking about health rules. But it is not properly maintained as most of the rural people are not aware."

Mirzaganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sarwar Hossain said a meeting has been held with the cattle market lessees of the upazila and all concerned have been instructed to comply with the health rules while selling the sacrificial animals.

Contacted, Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Md Matiul Islam Chowdhury said, "The organizers have been instructed to follow the health rules in the haats. If the instructions are ignored, disciplinary action will be taken through mobile court.