Mohammad Masud Majumdar:
To ensure safe, adequate and quality animal meat supply for all, the government is working to provide animal health services, increase animal production and productivity, and meet the demand for animal meat through a coordinated initiative of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Department of Livestock.
The holy Eid-ul-Adha is one of the most important religious festivals of devout Muslims around the world. One of the objectives of this festival is the sacrifice of animals. For the purchase and sale of sacrificial animals, it is necessary to determine the demand for animals, supply them and ensure free transport of sacrificial animals across the country. In addition, it is necessary to purchase and sell disease-free and healthy animals and to sacrifice animals in a hygienic way. For this purpose, today’s press conference.
We have complete preparations for the upcoming Eid al-Adha. We are preparing very carefully so that our cattle market remains stable. We have talked to the farmers to ensure that the animals are within our purchasing power.
We have assured the farmers, and they have also assured us that there is no need to import cattle this year. The cattle produced by our domestic farmers are sufficient. Our arrangements and management are adequate compared to the needs.
We seek your cooperation so that no one can destabilize the market during the upcoming Eid al-Adha. We hope that we will be able to celebrate the upcoming Eid al-Adha with joy.
The government is working to ensure that the price of cattle does not increase due to extortion. We have held inter-ministerial meetings, and we believe that any problem can be resolved.
1. Number of cattle eligible for sacrifice this year
Like every year, this year too, the Department of Livestock, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has determined the number of cattle eligible for sacrifice in the country. This year, a total of 12.47 million cattle, including 5.62 million 2,905 cows and buffaloes, 6.838 million 920 goats and sheep and 5,512 other species, are expected to be available. There is a possibility of a surplus of about 20.68 million 135 cattle this year.
2. Creating awareness and conducting mobile courts to prevent the use of steroids and hormones
Training programs for the scientific feeding of cattle eligible for sacrifice are ongoing across the country. Training has been provided to 83,656 farmers on cattle nutrition and scientific rearing, 6,600 yard meetings have been held, and 2,74,378 leaflets and posters have been distributed.
Training of farmers is ongoing to create awareness about the use of steroids and hormones, and mobile courts will continue to be operated in collaboration with the district administration and the district livestock department. In the meantime, 53,263 farms have been visited to increase farmers’ awareness about the ill effects of steroids/hormones.
3. Taking necessary measures for transporting sacrificial animals
Necessary instructions will be given along with awareness regarding the transportation of goats and sheep in buses or in the lock-up of buses. According to the Animal Welfare Act 2019, cruel treatment of sacrificial cattle should be avoided and proper transportation should be ensured. Failure to do so will be a punishable offense according to the Animal Welfare Act 2019.
The joint cooperation of law enforcement agencies (BGB and Bangladesh Police), district administration, and district livestock department will be taken to prevent the hijacking of sacrificial animal trucks and ensure smooth animal transport. In this regard, a control room (hot line-16358) will be operational at the Livestock Department. Action will be taken if you call to resolve any problem.
The concerned district authorities will be requested to ensure that no traffic movement is affected on the highway or where the market is set up. The district administration will work in conjunction with the upazila and district livestock departments in this regard. Measures will be taken to ensure that sacrificial animal trucks are given priority on roads or bridges, and that artificial traffic jams are not created by blocking animals on the road.
4. Veterinary medical team to provide treatment and monitoring at sacrificial animal markets
At the initiative of the City Corporation/Municipality, a veterinary medical team camp will be set up at each market by determining a suitable and specific place and there will be necessary logistical support during the performance of duties. Aprons, masks, chairs-tables, buckets, mugs, etc. will be provided to the service workers of the veterinary medical team.
Like last year, 20 veterinary medical teams have been formed to provide primary treatment to animals at 19 animal markets under Dhaka North and South City Corporations. 5 central monitoring teams and 2 specialist medical teams have been formed in Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation to monitor the activities of the veterinary medical team. Separate teams will be formed to manage activities including central coordination, mobile court operation, control room operation.
Veterinary medical teams across the country will provide necessary advice on primary medical advice, whether the sacrificial animal is safe and suitable for sacrifice, how to identify sacrificial animals, how to skin them properly, and how to manage waste to create awareness and motivation. In addition, veterinary medical teams will be engaged in providing necessary medical services at various upazila and district levels across the country.
The monitoring team formed by the ministry will monitor the activities of the veterinary medical team in Dhaka city. The monitoring team formed at the divisional, district and upazila levels will monitor the activities of the veterinary medical team in the concerned upazila. Arrangements will be made to broadcast the approved warning message on all private TV channels in addition to BTV and BTV World.
5. Training on scientific skinning of cattle
15,369 professional and 21,208 amateur meat processors (butchers) have been trained on skinning and preserving sacrificial animals for hygienic cattle sacrifice.
6. Taking action to prevent illegal entry of cattle
As per the decision of today’s inter-ministerial meeting, law enforcement agencies, BGB, Bangladesh Police, Coast Guard, District Administration, District Livestock Department will work in coordination to prevent illegal entry of cattle in cross-border districts. From today onwards, illegal entry of cattle is completely prohibited. Law enforcement agencies will take strict legal action in this regard.
07. Special trains will be arranged for the supply of sacrificial animals. Special trains will be arranged from North Bengal to Chittagong via Dhaka. In addition, the Animal Welfare Act 2019 will have to be followed in the supply of animals by train and waterway.
08. Animal waste management at cattle markets
Necessary steps will be taken to ensure cleanliness and waste removal at cattle markets with the joint cooperation of the local government department and the city corporation. Moreover, necessary instructions will be given at every place regarding animal sacrifice in a hygienic manner. The Animal Welfare Act 2019 must be followed to ensure animal health protection and safe meat.
Adequate food and clean water supply must be ensured during cattle markets and transportation. I seek the sincere cooperation of all the authorities concerned in this regard.
Finally, I conclude by expressing my sincere thanks and gratitude to you once again.
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