'Star Boy': The Most Expensive Bull Priced at Tk21 Lakh Weighs, One Ton!
'Star Boy', the American Brahman and Pakistani Sahiwal breed is priced at Tk 21 at Chattogram. Photo: Agamir Somoy.
Should you hear the price first, or the name? Both are quite interesting. The price tag has reached Tk21 lakh. Weighing 1,100 kg—well over a ton—this massive bull is named "Star Boy." It is highly likely the largest and most expensive sacrificial animal in Chittagong's Eid market this season. Deducting 40% for the hide, offal, and bones from the 1,100 kg weight leaves about 660 kg of meat, which calculates to roughly 17 maunds. At this rate, the meat costs about Tk3,182 per kilogram. But since this is Qurbani, price is not the main issue.
Why the name Star Boy? When asked, Alif Ahsan Chowdhury, the owner of Sarah Agro, explained, "When we bought him from Sirajganj three and a half years ago for Tk7 lakh 80 thousand, it was clear that his breed was special. He was meant to become something great as he grew. So, we gave him a meaningful name."
The 25-year-old Alif also provided a breakdown of the expenses: "Over these three and a half years, Star Boy consumed food worth Tk 9.5 lakh. The initial purchase and food alone cost Tk17 lakh 30 thousand. On top of that, there are the costs of rearing and other expenses over the years." Two workers looked after Star Boy every day. His daily diet consisted of 22 kg of granular feed and 25 kg of grass.
The price of this jet-black American Brahman and Pakistani Sahiwal crossbreed reached Tk21 lakh! However, Alif could not bring himself to sell him. Having raised the bull himself, an emotional bond developed, leading the family to decide to sacrifice Star Boy themselves.
Like Star Boy, Alif has an interesting story. While studying at Chittagong Grammar School (CGS), a renowned English-medium institution in the country, he got involved with the farm at the age of 13 alongside his businessman father. By 17, the entire responsibility fell onto his shoulders. He has been managing this business alone for the last 8 years. This year, with an investment of Tk8 crore, he reared 550 cattle of various sizes for sale. Except for 17, all the cattle were sold by this afternoon and are now awaiting delivery. The deliveries will continue until the day before Eid using 8 trucks.
Reflecting on his experience regarding the future of this industry, Alif said, "Many people get into this business as a hobby. But the profit margins are not very high. One can only make a substantial profit from this business if they invest thousands of crores."
Alif's father, Ahsan Iqbal Chowdhury, shared, "Alif has had a deep affection for animals since childhood. Seeing his passion, we as a family began encouraging him in the farming business. Now, his agro farm and cattle are his focus day and night."
