Unhealthy meat of cattle sold in Netrakona

NETRAKONA, Sept 3 (BSS): Meat of unhealthy or infected with different diseases heads of cattle are being allegedly sold by a section of dishonest meat-sellers in different areas of the district posing a serious threat to public health.

According to the district livestock office sources, under the existing law of the country, a meat-seller or a butcher will have to take a prior permission and health examination report of the animals from the concerned areas veterinary doctors and sanitary inspectors of municipalities or health departments before slaughtering those.

It is alleged that many dishonest butchers use to slaughter unhealthy or sick animals including cows and goats in different hats, bazars or other areas around the district every day violating the existing laws.

Netrakona District livestock officer (DLO) Dr Aftab Hussain confirmed the report as saying that a section of meat sellers without having licenses or collecting examination reports of the heads of cattle are slaughtering and selling meats in different areas mostly in rural hats, bazars and road-side areas.

Meanwhile, mobile courts conducted several drives in the town and other areas of the district and gave punishment to some dishonest butchers.

The DLO also informed that the district livestock office already held a series of meetings with the local meat-sellers to let them know about the existing laws for slaughtering heads of cattle.

Instructions have been issued to the upazila-level livestock officers and veterinary doctors to monitor the activities of meat-sellers in their respective areas to stop slaughtering heads of cattle without collecting health examination reports, the DLO added.