Sacrificial animals

Eid-ul-Azha is around the corner. The Muslim world is eagerly waiting for this holy occasion. Bangladeshi Muslims are no exception.

Every year, thousands of animals are sacrificed during this Eid in our country. Recently, I became surprised to learn that half the sacrificial animals come from India through smuggling channels. The Bangladesh government is losing huge amounts of revenue; if the same number of animals comes through proper channel, the national economy could be greatly benefited. Around 4 million animals come through illegal channels on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha. Smuggling of sacrificial animals just before Eid is no secret now. We are very eager to know, given this fact why the government is not taking proper steps to check it.

As a novel way, the government can allow the smugglers to bring these animals from India. Then we can see how many of them take this opportunity. When bringing the animals through the border, the smugglers, then traders, have to face medical teams who will check the cattle's health. They have also to pay the due taxes. Still they will make profits.

If the smugglers do not take this opportunity, the government then should go tough on them; and take all-out measures to stop smuggling of sacrificial animals into the country.

  Smuggling leaves a bad impact on the economy and it weakens the nation. It is high time the government waged a battle against smuggling and strengthened the nation's economy.

 Sakibul Alam

Goipagh, Dhaka

sohelhara@hotmail.com