The Forest Department has returned two elephants rescued two years ago from use in extorting money on roads to their owners, on conditions that they are not abused or used to collect money.
The state minister for fisheries and livestock says steps will be taken to stop extortion at cattle markets and on livestock trucks, and that no sacrificial animals need to be brought in from abroad.
LivestockAhead of Eid-ul-Azha 2025, the Bangladesh Army arrested five people at Kamarpara in Uttara on allegations of extortion around a cattle market and four at the Abdullahpur bus stand on allegations of overcharging fares.
The army handed two leaders of the BNP and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement to police over extortion from a buffalo trader at Jatrapur market in Kurigram.
Cattle traders and truck drivers heading to Dhaka from the north say the stick-wielding gangs and police extortion of past years have largely gone this Eid.
In seven days before Eid-ul-Azha, 282 people called 999 over animal trucks forced into markets, extortion, counterfeit notes and drugging gangs.
To keep highways free of extortion before Eid-ul-Azha, the Highway Police Cumilla region has formed 30 quick response teams alongside 66 patrol teams from 22 stations and outposts.
The Highway Police chief says vehicles carrying livestock cannot be stopped without specific information and that obstruction will not be tolerated.
Mahouts in Narail are openly collecting Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,500 a day by taking elephants onto roads and into markets, with many people paying out of fear or embarrassment.
Inspector General of Police Dr Benazir Ahmed has warned that no extortion on the transport of sacrificial animals will be tolerated and told officers to stay alert.
