Selim Osman, member of parliament for Narayanganj-5, is a business leader. He has long served as president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), and he owns the knit garment firm Wisdom Attires Limited. Beyond all this, he is also known as a successful farmer.

For nearly 18 years, Selim Osman has been rearing cattle, goats and sheep and farming various species of fish and vegetables. He grows different crops and fruits all year round. He has a large farm in Khulna, as well as a cattle farm in the Fatullah area of Narayanganj.

Every year the MP sells 150 to 200 cattle of various breeds at Eid ul-Azha. For this Eid, 141 animals including cattle, buffalo and garal sheep have been prepared at his farm, with an estimated value of about Tk 3 crore. Cattle are being sold by live weight from 9am every day at the cattle farm next to Wisdom Attires Limited, which Selim Osman owns.

Sources concerned say the 141 Qurbani animals to be sold from Selim Osman's farm are 41 Shahiwal, 26 Pakra, 20 Gir, five Friesian, seven Brahma, 10 deshi (local), three Butti, 15 buffalo and 14 garal. By live weight, cattle of 300–399 kg will sell at Tk 485 a kg, 400–499 kg at Tk 525 a kg and 500–600 kg at Tk 600 a kg, and garal at Tk 600 a kg.

Speaking about the sale, Selim Osman said: "I have been rearing cattle for over 20 years. It used to be my hobby; now it is my profession. But I have not yet used the money from this profession for personal purposes. I have used it for social development work. I have built several schools. With the money from last year's Qurbani cattle sales I built a madrasa. I will try to put this year's money to good use too. My relatives and friends buy their cattle from me."

He added: "We have all kinds of cattle here, from Tk 1 lakh up to Tk 6 lakh. There are several breeds of buffalo. This time I am not thinking of profit. We will sell only at what it has cost us. We will not go for any profit. I hope we can sell around Tk 3 crore worth of cattle."

Selim Osman's wife Nasrin Osman said: "We do social work with the money from selling Qurbani cattle. Selim Osman has been doing this since before he became an MP. The money goes to schools, colleges, madrasas, treatment for poor people and other public welfare work. This time too, the money from the animal sales will be spent on public welfare."

Morshed Sarwar Sohel, vice-president of the knitwear owners' body BKMEA, said: "Our MP and business leader Selim Osman sells animals every Qurbani Eid. This year too he will sell Qurbani animals. He spends the money from the sales on social work. It is a noble initiative."

District livestock officer Dr Muhammad Faruk Ahmed told Jago News: "I went to Selim Osman's factory. The bulls he has there are all of very good quality and healthy. I hope he will get a good price."

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