Every year, as Eid-ul-Azha nears, social media clamours over the exorbitant prices and unruly yet catchy names of sacrificial animals.

Two years back, the limelight fell on one particular goat and its supposed buyer, a story that quickly unfurled into a knot of contradictions.

The widespread attention began with the price of a goat sold by Sadeeq Agro at an astonishing Tk 15 lakh, sparking a mixture of curiosity and controversy around Mushfiqur Rahman Ifat, who claimed on social media to have bought it.

Eyebrows arched in astonishment, some knotted together in a frown. Soon, people asked where Ifat got the money.

The controversy intensified just a week before Eid when reports suggested Ifat had allegedly agreed to purchase the goat for Tk 12 lakh, despite an initial asking price of Tk 15 lakh.

Soon afterwards, he was identified in public speculation as the son of a revenue official, with whispers linking him to former National Revenue Board (NBR) official Matiur Rahman.

‘That kid is not my son’

Matiur Rahman vehemently denied any such connection.

“Ifat, the person being talked about, is neither my son nor even a relative or acquaintance. My only son’s name is Toufiqur Rahman. I will formally protest these rumours,” he said.

He expressed dismay at the online claims and announced plans for legal action with the Cyber Crime Investigation Department.

“My only son, Ahmed Towfiqur Rahman Arnab, is studying economics in the US and is now in the country,” he added.

In a television interview, he reiterated: “I do not have a son named Ifat. I have one son and one daughter. My son’s name is Ahmed Toufiqur Rahman, and my daughter is Farhana Rahman.”

He further said, “My son is very religious, prays five times a day, and has studied abroad. He left a job worth $100,000 and now lives with us in Bashundhara. The slander being spread is deeply hurtful.”

‘He is his son’

Despite the denials, counterclaims soon surfaced.

Matiur Rahman is reported to have two wives.

Then Feni-2 MP, Nizam Uddin Hazari stated that Ifat is indeed the son of Matiur Rahman from his second wife, who is the MP’s maternal cousin. He added that Matiur often attends family events with his second wife and may have denied the relationship out of anger.

As the story gathered pace, journalists visited Ifat’s Dhanmondi residence on June 19, 2024, only to find it empty. Security personnel said he had left days earlier and had not returned.

When contacted by phone, Ifat offered a different account entirely.

He claimed the episode was staged and orchestrated by Imran, the owner of Sadeeq Agro. He said he had not purchased the goat and had only played along at the farm owner’s request.

“I did as he said. I did not buy it or bring it to my house,” Ifat said.

Sadeeq Agro’s response partially supported this version, stating that although Ifat had paid an advance of Tk 1 lakh, the purchase was never finalised and the goat never left the farm.

The goat in question was described as a Beetal, one of the world’s largest goat breeds, standing 62 inches tall and weighing 175 kilogrammes.

Sadeeq Agro, which had acquired it from a market in Jashore for Tk 10 lakh, claimed it was the largest of its kind in Bangladesh.

A viral video showing Ifat’s supposed purchase, alongside clips of him buying other expensive livestock, further fuelled the sensation.

Despite the attention, the goat remained unsold during Eid-ul-Azha. Although initially priced at Tk 15 lakh, the farm later claimed it had agreed to Tk 12 lakh, but the buyer never followed through.

Owner Imran Hossain said at that time, “The young man did not take delivery of the goat. He booked it with an advance of Tk 1 lakh and was supposed to pay the rest on June 12, but we have not been able to contact him since.”

On the question of refunding the advance, he added: “If he has a valid reason, we will refund it. If this was done to mislead us, the money will be forfeited. Many others wanted to buy the goat, but we could not sell it.”

Further scrutiny revealed that Ifat had reportedly spent around Tk 70 lakh on livestock from multiple farms around Dhaka that year, reflecting his stated hobby of collecting exotic cattle.

Goat of discord

What began as a spectacle of social media fascination soon evolved into a broader socio-political satire, edging towards a thriller of allegations and counter-allegations.

As investigations progressed, a tangled web of claims and counterclaims emerged.

Sadeeq Agro gets served.

According to the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Sadeeq Agro was allegedly built illegally on encroached land along the Ramchandrapur canal site.

On June 27, 2024, DNCC demolished illegal structures built on canal land and adjoining road in Mohammadpur. Officials said the farm had erected sheds and structures obstructing water flow and had been warned before Eid.

Imran Hossain, however, said he was merely a tenant and that the landowner was responsible for the structures.

He alleged a conspiracy against him. He was eventually jailed and has not made bail yet.

Lost in the noise was the fate of the goat itself.

Eventually, it emerged that the animal was not a prize-winning specimen but an ordinary goat whose value had been significantly overstated.

Reports indicate it was removed during eviction and relocated to an unknown location.

What began as a spectacle ended as symbolism.

The controversy around the “goat of discord” exposed questions of transparency, accountability, and the ease with which digital narratives can spiral into institutional scrutiny.

It remains a reminder, stark and oddly theatrical, of how quickly spectacle can outgrow substance.