With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, the animal market at Rajshahi's traditional City Haat has come alive, crowded with farmers, traders and buyers from the district's upazilas. But even though there is an ample supply of home-grown livestock, the number of Indian cattle at the market is growing, and local farmers are worried.

Traders and farmers allege that for the past month Indian cattle have been entering the country through Rajshahi's border areas and spreading to various markets by both legal and illegal routes. Those involved say the number of Indian cattle at the markets is rising as Eid draws nearer.

Amjad Hossain, a farmer who brought cattle to the City Haat, said: "The number of Indian cattle at the market is growing day by day. Buyers are losing interest in local cattle because of it. We fear losses."

Local farmers say they have worked hard in recent years to fatten cattle and build up their farms, but they will suffer financially if Indian cattle keep coming across the border.

The Rajshahi divisional livestock office says there is no shortage of sacrificial animals in Rajshahi this year; on the contrary, a large number will be left over after meeting the district's demand.

According to the district livestock office, 463,011 animals have been prepared for sacrifice in Rajshahi this year: 104,841 cattle, 3,425 buffalo, 311,339 goats and 43,406 sheep. The district's total demand is 371,058 animals, leaving a surplus of about 92,000 that will be supplied to other districts.

District livestock officer Dr Md Atoar Rahman said: "At one time local farmers suffered heavy losses because of Indian cattle coming in. This time surveillance at the border has been stepped up so that cattle cannot enter illegally. The administration is working to protect local farmers' interests."

He added: "There is no chance of Indian cattle entering the market. We have spoken to the law enforcement agencies about this. They have clearly said that Indian cattle are not being allowed into Bangladesh in any way. The law enforcers are keeping a close watch so that nobody can bring foreign cattle to the market."

If one or two cattle look Indian to someone, the district livestock officer said, somebody may have brought them in by other means, but no such cattle have approval from his office.

Asked about the matter, Deputy Police Commissioner Md Gaziur Rahman, spokesman of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), told Jago News: "We are not aware of this. We are looking into it. Action will be taken after talking to the higher authorities."

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