Govt decides to restrict entry of cattle head

The government has decided to restrict entry of cattle heads into the country through the borders to ensure fare prices for local cattle traders during Eid-ul-Azha.

The decision came at an inter-ministerial meeting held on Tuesday with state minister for fisheries and livestock Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru in the chair.

The meeting was informed that the influx of Indian cattle heads has significantly fallen in recent years after Bangladesh became self-reliant in meat. Earlier, about 2.5 million cattle heads used to enter the country which came down to only 92,000 last year.

The meeting was told that the number of animals available for sacrifice during this Eid is 11.8 million. Of them, 4.58 million are cows and buffaloes, 72,000 goats and sheep and 6,563 other animals.

During this upcoming Eid, 11 million cattle heads may be sacrificed. Last year, the number of sacrificial animals available during Eid-ul-Azha was 11.5 million. But 10.5 million were sacrificed.

A total of 24 cattle markets will be set up in the two city corporations--10 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and 14 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).