Indian cattle are coming in Bangladesh

Cattle are entering Bangladesh through different places, crossing the Bangladesh-India border ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

It was learnt that more cattle than last year are being brought through several corridors along the border although there is strong vigilance by Indian border security force in certain places to stop cattle export.

According to the department of livestock services, there are some 40 lakh healthy cattle including buffaloes in the country, against the demand of an estimated 50 lakh on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest festival of Muslims.

Prothom Alo correspondents from respective areas reported that traders are bringing more cattle than last year through different points along the border in the northern districts although the Indian authorities have strengthened security measures along the border to stop cattle to enter Bangladesh ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

Traders are also bringing cattle through different points along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

It is, however, learnt that the inflow of cattle from India is comparatively less through the bordering areas of Satkhira, Jessore, and Chuadanga.

There are eight corridors in the areas under the jurisdiction of Rajshahi Customs Commissioner Office through which cattle are brought from India.

Sources in the office of the commissioner said a total of 36,307 cows, buffaloes and goats were brought into Bangladesh from India last August. Some 27,000 are cows, whereas only 15,303 cows, buffaloes, goats and other livestock were brought during the corresponding period last year.

A total of 3,400 cows and buffaloes entered Bangladesh through Sultanganj corridor in the first 12 days of current month.

The biggest cattle market in Rajshahi is organised at Cit Bypass. The lessee of the cattle market, Atikur Rahman, said he heard that a big contingent of cattle was brought from India. But the cattle market did not get those cattle and buffaloes. The traders from Dhaka and Chittagong took them away straight from Sultanganj and Kansat points.

Cattle are also being taken through the Islampur custom corridor of Patgram in Lalmonirhat district. Sources in the custom office said a total of 4,607 cows were taken through the corridor last August and in the first 14 days of this month. The number was only 1,355 during the corresponding period last year.

Sources said some 60,000 cows were brought from India from 1 July to 12 September whereas the number was 14,675 in the corresponding time previous year.

Meanwhile, over 5,500 cows were brought through the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar from 1 August to 14 September whereas it was less than 4,500 last year.

More cattle are expected from local dairy firms in Bogra district. District’s additional livestock officer Khandaker Bazlur Rahman said some 76,822 healthy cows are expected to be supplied by 1,261 dairy firms and by farmers in the district on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

He said an estimated 1,35,000 cows and 89,000 goats and sheep were sacrificed in the last Eid-ul-Azha.

Besides, it is being expected that cattle and other sacrificial animals would be supplied by different districts including Sirajganj, Pabna, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Gazipur and Munshiganj.

DMP Instruction:Dhaka metropolitan police commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, senior officials, business community and transport leaders attended a meeting to discuss security arrangements for cattle. There would be 23 cattle markets in DMP area; however, Dhaka North and South city corporations will have 17 markets.

DMP commissioner assured traders and transport leaders in the meeting that there would be no extortion in the cattle trade this year. Asaduzzaman instructed his officials to take action irrespective of political and other identities.

He said that no cattle market would be allowed out of their approved areas. The markets must be restricted to the leased areas. Police will be deployed in cattle markets from 18 September, but no cows would be allowed in those temporary markets before 19 September.

The cattle markets will be monitored by close circuit cameras, police watchtowers and control rooms, Asaduzzaman added.

Traders can take their cattle to any market in the capital and none can force them to take their cows to any selected markets. Police will ensure this. Police will also escort traders if they would carry significant sums of money.

Different banks will provide transaction faculties in the cattle markets during evening so that traders can deposit their money safely. Transactions will be available till 9pm every night and there will also be machines to detect fake currency.