There are more sacrificial animals in the country than the demand for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim has said.
On Wednesday (June 14) on the occasion of the coming Eid-ul-Azha, the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock gave this information to some journalists during an inter-ministerial meeting held to ensure the demand, supply and free transportation of sacrificial animals to remote areas of the country.
Meanwhile, the minister said that there is a surplus of 21 lakh 41 thousand 594 animals over the demand. The total number of cattle that can be sacrificed this year is 1 crore 25 lakh 36 thousand 333. Which is 4 lakh 11 thousand 944 more than last year. This year, 48 lakh 43 thousand 752 cows and buffaloes, 76 lakh 90 thousand goats and sheep and 2 thousand 581 other species of cattle are among the livestock that can be sacrificed this year.
“In the past only sacrificial animals were sold in markets. From now on, you can sell sacrificial animals on the street, you can sell them at home, you can sell them in the market. If any sale is disturbed, the law will take its own course. Anyone can sell from wherever they want. Because sometime monopoly in the market creates a crisis of tenants to do business. That's why we have opened the sale."
The minister also said that this year too, like the last four-five years, it will be possible to meet the demand for sacrifices only with the cattle produced in the country. There is no need to import animals from abroad. Strict monitoring is being done to prevent illegal entry of livestock from neighboring countries. A letter has already been given to the Ministry of Home Affairs to take measures in this regard.
There is no shortage of sacrificial animals in the country, this time in Dhaka division there are 8 lakh 95 thousand 454, in Chittagong division there are 20 lakh 53 thousand 128, in Rajshahi division there are
45 lakh 11 thousand 614, in Khulna division there are 15 lakh 11 thousand 708, in Barisal division there are 4 lakh 93 thousand 206, in Sylhet division there are 4 lakh 10 thousand 225, in Rangpur division there 19 lakh 62 thousand 951 and in Mymensingh division there are 6 lakh 98 thousand 47 cattle ready to be sold in markets.
Like in the previous years this year too the local administration, police department and livestock department will work together to monitor the sale of the aminals. Regular surveillance and mobile courts will be conducted to stop the use of adulterated or prohibited antibiotics and hormones in animal feed.
The minister said that the officials of the Department of Livestock visited 87 thousand 95 farms across the country and took initiatives to stop the misuse of steroids or hormones in these farms. Stating that diseased or sick animals will not be allowed to be sold in the sacrificial market this year.
The minister said, for this purpose, like last year, the veterinary medical team will work to provide first aid to animals across the country. Central Monitoring Team and Specialist Medical Team will be constituted to monitor the activities of Veterinary Medical Team.
M. Rezaul Karim said that this year as well, the law enforcement forces, district administration and district livestock department will work together to prevent the theft of sacrificial animal trucks, including ensuring the safety of animals and animal traders during the transportation of livestock by road, rail and sea.
If a farmer sells animals from his home or wants to take his animal to a distant market, he cannot be forced to take it down the road. In this case law and order enforcement forces, local government units, municipalities, upazilas or union parishads, city corporations will confirm this matter. If someone sells an animal on the way to the market, the lessee cannot forcefully collect payment or revenue from him. Apart from this, 10 banks and 3 Mobile Financial Service (MFS) providers have started digital transactions in 26 districts with the help of Livestock Department.
Digital transactions worth Tk 33 crore were done in six animal markets last year under the initiative of Bangladesh Bank. This year, Bangladesh Bank has taken the initiative of cashless transactions in animal markets of Dhaka and Chittagong. Minister S M Rezaul Karim also said that transactions can be done through QR code, smart app, ATM booth, point of sales machine, mobile financial service (MFS), and agent banking in sacrificial animals markets.
