COX'S BAZAR, Aug 26: Some dishonest farmers and traders here are fattening cows in illegal ways to do brisk business ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha. In this connection, they are administering toxic chemicals into their cattle, which in turn have harmful effects on both cattle and people.
It was alleged that some companies, in collusion with some local pharmacy owners, are depositing the medicines at some pharmacies and godowns at Khan Market and surrounding areas for selling those to farmers and traders. In this way, a syndicate is earning huge amount of money.
Though the meat of such fattened cows has serious harmful effect on consumers' bodies, the district livestock and medicine departments are not taking any visible steps to stop the malpractice.
It is known that, centring Eid-ul-Azha, some dishonest farm owners and seasonal traders are involved in competition to fatten cows by feeding the illegal medicines. Some days before the Eid, they buy sick and lean cows from farmers and fatten those with illegal hormone, injection and toxic chemicals. To earn more profit within a short time, they overdose the cows, and after fattening within a short time, bring those to the market before the Eid.
Livestock experts informed that the cows which are fattened in this way have to be slaughtered within a week of the Eid otherwise these die. After taking the meat of these cows, the liver, kidney, heart and head of the consumers get infected with various diseases. But, if the cows can be fattened according to legal methods, there is no harm for the cows and the people, experts opined.
On the other hand, despite being illegal, the medicines are available even at the groceries of the remotest areas in the country. The cow traders buy these medicines sometimes even at one taka only from those shops and fatten their cows without any hamper.
Market sources said, the traders mainly buy the medicines 'Adam-33' and 'Oradexon' marketed by Novita Group and 'Decatron' by Delta Pharma. Besides, each 'Roxdex' injection of Novita Group is sold at Tk 25. Some companies - Hira Animal Healthcare, Sky Agro Pharma, Kazib Drugs, Saif Agrovet Bangladesh, Cure Life, Glower Stock, and Alpha Argovet, are also marketing illegal medicines and injections in the market.
Other than the country, medicines - 'Dexamethason', 'Dexavet' and 'B-50' imported from Myanmar and some from India, are also being sold locally.
A vested corner is marketing these illegal medicines at Pekua, Chakaria, Lama, Alikadam, Eidgaon, Naikkhongchhari, Eidgarh, Baishari, Garjania, Ramu, Ukhia, Teknaf, Moheshkhali and Kutubdia areas of the district and adjacent areas and is earning huge money.
While asked about the marketing and sale of these illegal medicines, District Medicine Caretaker Shafiqur Rahman said, "Before the Eid-ul-Azha, some dishonest traders do the malpractice. We are monitoring the pharmacies. If any anomaly is found, we will conduct drives there."
Animal healthcare experts said, these medicines lead to the increase of water in a cow's body and cause it to look healthy and fat. As a result, it rapidly loses immunity and the kidney, heart and liver functions get damaged.
District livestock office sources said, cow fattening is a regular and usual practice and a means to earn quick profit which is going on for ages. After taking training from Youth Development Department and Livestock Department on cow fattening, many unemployed youths are becoming self-reliant.
In this connection, District Livestock Officer Dr Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury said, "Like the previous years, we have taken steps to tackle cow fattening in illegal ways here. In this connection, medical teams have been formed to monitor different animal farms and markets. If any news of illegal means is found, we will take legal steps."
