Govt to ensure supply of 13m animals

The government would ensure supply of 13 million sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha this year, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister Md Abdur Rahman on Sunday.

"We supplied 12.5 million sacrificial animals for the last Eid-ul-Azha. Of them, 1.9 million remained unsold. We've arranged to supply 13 million animals for this year's Eid-ul-Azha," he told the media at a press briefing at his secretariat office.

"The festival is coming and during this time a vested quarter used to seek their own benefits and they might try to divert the the situation to their favour/ interests," he said.

He, however, says the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has taken all preparations and there is no shortage of sacrificial animals being nurtured by the local dairy farmers.

The minister mentions that they are aware of the menace from middlemen at cattle markets.

The government sat with cattle farmers and discussed the demand and supply situation of sacrificial animals during the Eid, he said.

"We (govt) have assured them (dairy/ cattle farmers) that there is no need to import cattle during the Eid-ul-Azha," he said.

"We don't have any decision on importing cows. Our local farmers produce cattle that are sufficient to meet the demand during the Eid-ul-Azha." he said.

"There is no shortage of sacrificial animals. Our arrangement and management are quite right to deal with the challenge," he asserted with a note of positive tone.

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