The aroma of red meat-based curries and spicy stews being cooked, the clatter of cutlery, and the joyous chorus of "Eid Mubarak" - these are the hallmarks of Eid-ul-Azha.
Yet the relentless surge in the price of commodities has cast a long shadow over the daily lives of many in Dhaka.
The challenge is even steeper, especially for those living alone in the city without the support of a family unit, they bear the brunt of escalating rents, utility bills, and grocery costs.
Soaring food prices and relentless inflation have pushed red meat out of their reach, turning a simple culinary indulgence into a luxury often unaffordable.
Throughout the year, they subsist on lentils, vegetables, and more affordable fish and poultry with red meat being a very rare indulgence. For them, Eid-ul-Azha transcends religious significance, it is a chance to indulge in the very thing they've been yearning for - a hearty meal of beef or mutton that is often elusive.
A little savouring amid a long survival
Shakib, is a marketing professional in his mid-20s and lives in a shared apartment in Mirpur.
His monthly budget leaves little room for luxuries.
"I can't remember the last time I bought beef or mutton for myself. It is simply too expensive,” he says.
Like many others, Arif had been eagerly awaiting Eid-ul-Azha, not just for the spiritual significance, but for the joy of savouring a meal that includes red meat.
"It's the one time of the year when I can enjoy a proper feast. It makes the daily grind a little more bearable" he added.
The sense of community and sharing that Eid-ul-Azha fosters is particularly poignant for those living alone.
For bachelors like Rafiq, a 35-year-old marketing executive, the holiday is a chance to connect with others.
"We come together and share what we have. It's not just about the meat; it's about feeling part of something bigger, feeling less alone," Rafiq explains.
The communal aspect of Eid brings a sense of belonging and warmth that is often missing in the daily lives of those far from their families.
With prices at an all-time high, many are forced to pool resources to afford the sacrificial animal.
This pooling not only makes it possible for bachelors to participate in the sacrifice but also strengthens the bonds within their social circles.
"We all chip in what we can," says Imran, a 32-year-old graphic designer.
"It's a collective effort, and it makes the celebration even more meaningful," he added.
Students stretched thinner
Talking to students and canteen owners of Dhaka University, Dhaka College and Eden Women's College, it was known that beef is cooked from the cuts of the head usually in canteens.
Canteen owners collect the cuts at Tk450-550 per kg. Some cook beef one day a week, especially on Fridays. The price of rice with one to two pieces of beef is between Tk70-100.
However, the price of beef in DU's canteen is between Tk60-70.
Mutton and buffalo meat is never cooked in the hall canteen.
Nasir Uddin, who operates four canteens at Dhaka University and Eden Mohila College, said they do not cook regular beef cuts due to high prices.
Instead, they procure cow heads from butchers and collect meat and bones from them. This is later cooked with potatoes. The regular cuts cost around Tk750-800 per kg, while these less preferable cuts cost them Tk500 per kg.
At Kabi Jasimuddin Hall of Dhaka University, Nasir Uddin prepares meals for 600 students daily.
He cooks approximately 10kg cuts of cow head to serve around 150 people.
"A student has to pay Tk65 per meal, which includes one or two tiny pieces of meat, bones, potatoes and rice" he said.
Sohel, the canteen manager of Bijoy Ekattor Hall at Dhaka University, serves meals to approximately 800-1,000 students daily.
He includes beef in the menu 3-4 times a week, with 1kg of beef serving 15 to 18 people. Each beef meal costs Tk70 per person.
Md Alauddin Al Azad, a residential student of Kabi Jasimuddin Hall, said, “I try to eat meals of beef. But the pieces are very small. The taste is delectable as it is the meat from the head. Also, the price is higher than other items.”
“I ate a lot of meat this Eid. And when I came to Dhaka, I brought beef cooked from home. I can eat these for several days,” he added.
Ziaul Hoque, a student at Jatir Janak Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, said that despite being fond of beef items, he cannot opt for beef from random restaurants or dormitory canteens due to the risk of frozen or rotten meat.
Also, the prices are high, he added.
Rubel, a recent graduate from a private university and currently seeking employment, lives in Uttara with several other students.
He said red meat is beyond his affordability, adding that he cannot even recall the last time they cooked meat.
High price hacks away meat consumption
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock said 10,408,918 animals were sacrificed across Bangladesh during Eid-ul-Azha this year - 367,106 more compared to last year.
Yet according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Bangladeshis consume only 3.4 kg of meat per capita per year.
Among Muslim-majority countries, Bangladesh consumes the least amount of meat.
Bangladesh is second on the list of least meat-consuming countries in the world.
Although beef is more popular, the per capita consumption of beef in this country is only 0.9 kg per year due to high prices. Most of this meat is eaten during Eid-ul-Azha.
Inflation in Bangladesh has soared to 9.89% in May, the highest in seven months. For almost a year, inflation has remained above 9%, with food inflation surging to 10.76%.
The people of Bangladesh eat poultry chicken meat the most.
Bangladeshis eat 1.36 kg of poultry meat per capita per year. The main source of protein for most people in this country is fish.
With the Eid-ul-Azha holidays just ending, the smell of spices still continues to waft through the air, for many it is a brief respite from the financial pressures and a chance to partake in the culinary joys that are otherwise out of reach.
