Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim has said that care should be taken to ensure that no one is cheated when buying cattle online. Other forums including A2I, eShop, e-Cab associated with Digital Hat need to ensure this. So that people's confidence increases. If anyone is cheated, they will not be interested in joining the process next year.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the launch of the online platform 'Digital Hat 2022' (digitalhatt.gov.bd) on Sunday at the official residence on Bailey Road in the capital. The event was jointly organized by ATUI and Ekshop and E-Cab of the Department of Information and Communication Technology.
At the time, the minister said, according to the Eid-ul-Azha survey, there is a demand for 96 lakh 75 thousand sacrificial animals. To meet this demand, 1 crore 21 lakh 24 thousand 379 cattle have been kept ready so that there is no shortage of cattle. Once upon a time, when animals did not come from India and Myanmar, we had to worry about sacrificial animals. One of the chapters that Bangladesh is moving forward under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the revolutionary change in the livestock sector. Now surplus animals are being produced in Bangladesh more than the demand.
He further said that at one time there were various difficulties and various adverse conditions regarding the management of sacrificial animals. That has been made much easier through the modernization of information technology. If someone is not interested after buying an animal online, there is a remedy for it. For financial transactions, there is an opportunity to take action through smart cards and other apps. It highlights the visible state of transformation of Bangladesh into a prosperous digital country in the heart of the world. The minister added that 3 lakh 75 thousand cattle were sold online last year. Many were not interested in sacrifice because of the Coronavirus situation. More cattle are expected to be sold this year.
The minister said if the cattle purchased online are not liked, the refund system will continue so that it works for the welfare of all and no one should be cheated in any way. Virtual calculators have been added to the online platform this year. This will free the buyers and sellers from uninvited problems and alleviate their worries.
He added that it is important to ensure that the information uploaded online includes the ownership, address, owner's mobile number, age, weight and photo of the animal. In case of uploading, the health certificate of the cattle has to be taken. In this case our veterinary surgeons will provide services. It can diagnose diseased and unsuitable sacrificial animals. The Department of Livestock will provide the necessary assistance to connect farmers to the online platform. In this case, the Dairy Farmers Association should take initiative through coordination with the E-Commerce Association.
The chief guest further said that in case of buying and selling animals online, no profit can be made. The area will be kept out of lease and harassment will be ensured at night. Even if someone sells animals at home or on the street outside the market, there is no way to collect or levy from them. Vehicles transporting sacrificial animals will be given priority on roads, bridges and ferries. The control room of the Department of Livestock will work to solve any problem encountered in bringing and taking animals purchased online. Our goal is to ensure that buyers and sellers do not face any problems.
At this time, the minister advised everyone to follow the picture hygiene rules.
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the function while NM Ziaul Alam, Senior Secretary, Department of Information and Communication Technology and Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Commerce addressed the function as special guests. Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce also spoke on the occasion. Hafizur Rahman and AHM Shafiquzzaman, Joint Secretary of the Cabinet. Dewan Mohammad Humayun Kabir, Dhaka North City Corporation Chief Property Officer. Mohammad Mahe Alam, ANM Golam Mohiuddin, Director, National Agricultural Technology-2 Project, Department of Livestock, Kajal Chatterjee, National Project Manager, UNDP, Md. Abdul Wahed Tamal etc. E-Cab President Shami Kaiser delivered the welcome address. Rezwanul Haque Jamie, Head of E-Commerce, A2I, presented the Digital Hat platform.
