The government has formed a total of 1,200 veterinary medical teams to provide medical services for the animals to be sacrificed during Eid-ul-Azha across the country this year.
At least 1,192 veterinary medical teams worked last year to ensure normal health of sacrificial cattle across the country.
A total of 2,362 cattle markets will be set up this Eid across the country.
Besides, 26 medical teams will be available at 24 cattle markets under two city corporations in the capital, according to sources at the Department of Livestock Services (DLS).
Ten cattle markets will be set up in the area of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) while 14 will be set up in the area of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), the sources revealed.
Each of the medical teams will be comprised of five members - one official from the DLS, two veterinary interns and two compounders, said Dr Akhil Chandra, senior scientific officer, DLS.
The vet medical teams will work in Dhaka on August 09, 10 and 11 and from August 07 till the Eid across the country, he told the FE.
The DLS has also formed an eight-member Central Monitoring Team and specialised medical teams to watch whether there were any anomalies or malpractices in the cattle markets, Chandra said.
Four specialised medical teams will work in Dhaka. Of them, two will work in DNCC area and two others in DSCC, Dr Akhil added.
Apart, 300 Imams and 700 butchers have been trained up to slaughter sacrificial animals in halal (permissible) way, he said.
This year some 11.78 million cattle are available for sacrifice against the total demand for 11.20 million, according to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS).
A total of 2,885,142 cows and buffaloes, 2,009,710 sheep and goats and 6,563 other animals like camel and 'dumba' are set to be sacrificed this Eid.
Under the government's cow-fattening programme, these animals have been reared at 577,416 farms, according to official statistics.
On the other hand, 1,696,858 more old non-productive cows and buffaloes along with 5,190,290 sheep and goats are also being made ready for this Eid.
More than 10 million cows, sheep and goats were sacrificed during Eid-ul-Azha in last couple of years, the data showed.
Dr ABM Khaleduzzaman, DLS assistant director (farm), said the medical teams will provide primary medical services for cattle in the cattle markets.
If any cattle gives a sign of steroid being used in its body, then the specialised medical teams will work to diagnosis it and necessary steps will be taken accordingly after that, Dr Khaleduzzaman added.
Hazaribagh field at Zigatola, Lalbagh Rahmatganj playground, Chairman Barir More in Kamrangirchar, Gopibagh Balur Math and open spaces adjacent to Kamalapur stadium and open space of Shanir Akhra-Daniya playground, Meradia Bazar Playground, open spaces of Dhupkhola playground, 41 no. Kawarteck playground, open spaces of Amulia Model Town, Aftabnagar Eastern Housing Dawkandi Endulia, Maitree Shangho playground, Shyampur Balur Math and 32 no. Shamsabad playground cattle markets will be built up under the DSCC.
The cattle markets under the DNCC include open space of Eastern Housing at Mirpur- 6, Khilkhet Banorupa Residential Project, open space near the bridges no 1 & 2 at Uttara Sector 15, Bhatara (Sayed Nagar), open spaces near Mohammadpur Buddhijibi Road, and open spaces on both sides of 300 Feet Road in Khilkhet, open spaces at Kawla-Shialdanga, Uttara-10 no. sector Switch gate to Kamarpara Bridge, open spaces at north side of Mirpur DOHS, open spaces of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, open spaces of Sahidnagar Housing area in Uttarkhan and Badda Eastern Housing (Aftabnagar).
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