The government has completed all preparations for Qurbani at the coming Eid-ul-Adha using domestic cattle. About 1.25 crore animals fit for sacrifice are available this year, 3.75 lakh more than last year. With local animals meeting demand, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has taken a firm stand against bringing in cattle from abroad.

According to the Department of Livestock Services, there is an adequate stock of livestock this year, as there was last year.

Of the fattened animals fit for sacrifice this year, the department puts the stock at about:

• Dhaka division: 7.47 lakh
• Chattogram division: 17.73 lakh
• Rajshahi division: 44.78 lakh
• Khulna division: 11.82 lakh
• Barishal division: 4.11 lakh
• Sylhet division: 2.12 lakh
• Rangpur division: 15.52 lakh
• Mymensingh division: 5.33 lakh

In addition, there are about 16.43 lakh household-reared animals.

At last year's Eid-ul-Adha, a total of 99,50,763 animals were sacrificed across the country. The divisional figures reported were:

• Dhaka: 11,67,810 cattle and buffalo, 13,23,711 goats and sheep and 247 others, a total of 24,91,768
• Chattogram: 13,13,678 cattle and buffalo, 8,14,685 goats and sheep and 96 others, a total of 21,28,459
• Rajshahi: 7,09,243 cattle and buffalo and 1,28,885 goats and sheep, given as a total of 19,98,128
• Khulna: 2,58,264 cattle and buffalo, 6,67,930 goats and sheep and 15 others, a total of 9,26,209
• Barishal: 2,67,614 cattle and buffalo and 2,31,323 goats and sheep, a total of 4,98,937
• Sylhet: 2,01,186 cattle and buffalo and 1,91,397 goats and sheep, a total of 3,92,583
• Rangpur: 5,31,093 cattle and buffalo and 6,07,803 goats and sheep, a total of 11,38,896
• Mymensingh: 1,80,548 cattle and buffalo, 1,95,186 goats and sheep and 49 others, a total of 3,75,783

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.