Ahead of the coming Eid-ul-Azha, 1 crore 29 lakh 80 thousand 367 (12,980,367) animals fit for sacrifice are ready across the country, 4 lakh 44 thousand 34 more than last year. Some 3,000 cattle markets will also be held across the country for the Eid.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdur Rahman gave the figures at an inter-ministerial meeting in the Department of Livestock Services conference room on Thursday (16 May) afternoon. The meeting was held to ensure demand and supply of sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha and to make sure animals can come freely to Dhaka from remote areas.

The minister said that according to divisional data, the highest possible demand for sacrificial animals this year is 1 crore 7 lakh 2 thousand 394 (10,702,394), leaving 22 lakh 77 thousand 973 (2,277,973) more animals ready than needed. Available animals include 52 lakh 684 cattle, 1 lakh 60 thousand 320 buffaloes, 68 lakh 50 thousand 58 goats, 7 lakh 67 thousand 743 sheep and 1,850 animals of other species.

He said there is no need for imports since there are more sacrificial animals than required. As last year, farmers selling animals from their own homes will not have to pay the market toll (hasil). No farmer taking animals to a distant market may be forced to unload them on the road, and law enforcers, local government units, including municipalities and upazila and union parishads, and city corporations will give full support, he said.

Abdur Rahman said market leaseholders may not forcibly take tolls or extortion money from anyone who sells an animal on the way to a market. People are being advised to avoid carrying cash and to use smart, alternative means of payment as far as possible. As last year, online platforms for selling sacrificial animals will run across the country.

When traders asked that cattle be prevented from coming in through smuggling routes, the minister said there was no scope for that, as the country has more animals than it needs. Surveillance has been stepped up at the border so that sacrificial hides cannot be smuggled out illegally, he said.

He said all preparations have been made so that no one is harassed while moving animals. A police team will be at every market, through which anyone can get help. Preparations have been made to work out a proper system with farmers, city corporations and law enforcement agencies, he added.

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