Kushtia, March 20 -- income families in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia buying beef at market prices remains a distant dream.

But a grassroots initiative - locally known as ' Meat Cooperatives' is steadily changing that reality, helping hundreds enjoy meat during Eid.

"We are poor people. We earn daily and spend daily. With current market prices, buying meat is nearly impossible," said 55-year-old day labourer Md Roich Uddin from Jotmora village in Jaduboyra union.

With a smile, he added, "I saved Tk 50 every week in the cooperative. With the savings of a whole year, I got around four kilograms of meat. This Eid, I will enjoy it with my family."

He said the price per kilogram of meat through the cooperative stood at around Tk 650, signi...