More than 1,29,80,367 cattle are ready for sacrifice during Eid-ul-Azha across the country.
These cattle will be sold in around 3,000 cattle markets across the country, according to the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry.
Briefing media after an inter-ministerial meeting held at the conference room of the Department of Livestock on Thursday, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdur Rahman gave this information.
Fisheries and Livestock Ministry held the meeting to ensure transports carrying sacrificial animals can enter the capital freely from remote areas.
Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md Selim Uddin, Additional Secretary ATM Mustafa Kamal and Director General of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) Dr Mohammad Reajul Huq, representatives of two city corporations of the capital and Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association (BFDA) were present, among others.
Abdur Rahman said that 1,25,36,333 cattle were in the stocks for sacrifice last year and that 4,44,034 more are ready for sacrifice this year.
According to the primary assessment of DLS, the maximum demand for sacrificial cattle this year was expected to be 1.07 crore, which was around 1.05 crore in the last year. Around 22.77 lakh more cattle than the demand is available.
According to the DLS, available cattle includes 52.68 lakh cows, 1.60 buffaloes, 68.50 lakh goats, 7.67 lakh sheep and 1,850 other animals.
The Minister said that there will be is no need to import.
If a farmer sells animals, he will not have to pay the charges (hasil) this year.
Farmers, who want to take his animals to a distant market, cannot be forced to sell them on midway roads.
Abdur Rahman said that if someone sells an animal on way to the market, the lease customer cannot force him pay charges. In the case of buying and selling of sacrificial animals, it is advised to make financial transactions in a smart manner instead of using cash. Like last year, this year too, the system of selling sacrificial animals will continue across the country on the online platform.
In response to a query about illegal smuggling of animals, the minister said that there will be no scope to bring cattle from other countries illegally.
Vigilance has been increased along the borders to ensure that no animal can enter the country illegally and no rawhide can be smuggled.
Regarding the preparations of the government, he said that all the preparations have been taken so that no one is harassed for carrying animals to markets or home. Anyone can take help of the team to be deployed at all markets including the makeshift markets.
The minister said if a farmer wants to take his animal to a distant market for extra profit, he cannot be forced to take it to local markets. In this case, the law enforcement forces, local government units such as municipalities, upazila or union parishads, city corporations will take immediate measures necessary.
