The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against the owner of Sadeeq Agro and six government officials over illegal cattle import of the banned Brahman breed.
ACC Assistant Director Md Abul Kalam Azad filed the case at the ACC's Dhaka Integrated District Office on Tuesday. It was filed under sections 420, 409, 467, 468, 471 and 109 of the Penal Code 1860 and Section 5(2) of the Corruption Prevention Act 1947.
The seven accused are Md Imran Hossain, owner of Sadeeq Agro, Touhidul Alam Zenith, friend of Imran Hossain, Dr Md Monirul Islam, Director of Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm, Dr A B M Khaleduzzaman, Director (Production), Md Saiful Islam, Buyer Officer at Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm, Dr Firoz Ahmed Khan, Upazila Livestock Officer (live/reserve), and Dr A B M Salah Uddin, Deputy Director (live/reserve training).
The ACC inquiry report stated that Imran Hossain sold nine cows of the breed at high prices, around Tk 10 million each, in the sacrificial animal market.
Moreover, 15 such cows were taken from the government-owned Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm in Savar. Those were displayed in the Livestock Services Week and Exhibition 2024 in presence of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) officials.
The ACC inquiry unearthed all these. So, the entity filed the case against the seven accused for irregularities and various allegations of corruption.
The case statement mentioned that Sadeeq Agro's proprietor, Md. Imran Hossain, imported 18 Brahman cattle from the US on 5 July 2021, without any letter of credit (LC) and livestock import permit from the DLS. After import, he tried to release the cattle without submitting a bill of entry.
Since the cattle import was initiated without permission from the DLS, and the Sub-Section 41 of Section 26 of the Import Policy Order and quarantine conditions were not followed, the customs authorities seized the cattle.
Following proper procedures, the seized Brahman breed cattle were handed over to the DLS. These were reared under supervision of the Dairy Farm in Savar for three years. During this period, an average monthly expense of over Tk 38.25 million was incurred for food, shelter, electricity, water, and labour costs. The seized cattle could be used for breeding and meat production, according to the court order.
The ACC team conducted raids at various locations, including Sadeeq Agro farms in Mohammadpur and Savar, the Dairy Farm in Savar, and the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
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