Crime & Justice

Cattle smugglers swing into action ahead of Eid

Apply various techniques to bring sacrificial animals from Myanmar, India
A bull jumps out of a boat in the capital’s Postagola. Traders are bringing sacrificial animals for sale at a makeshift cattle market there ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha. They say sale is yet to pick up. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Amid a ban on cattle import, smuggling from Myanmar and India continues unabated ahead of the Eid.

The smugglers often operate with blessings from local political leaders, bribe the Border Guard Bangladesh members, and, in one instance, they even forged a home ministry order to bring cattle into the country, according to sources in the racket.

The Daily Star has a copy of the "ministry order".

In Naikhongchhari, Bandarban, hundreds of cows, oxen and bulls are brought in from Myanmar every day, and the smugglers pay just Tk 100 to men from the upazila parishad for each animal, the sources said.

They added that BGB men receive a cut from the money.

Mohammad Imran Hossain, president of Bangladesh Dairy Farmers' Association, said, "Indian cattle are entering Bangladesh through the borders in Cumilla, Mymensingh, Chapainawabganj, and Sylhet, while those from Myanmar are brought in through Chakaria of Cox's Bazar and Bandarban."

The cattle from India and Myanmar are rather small in size, he said. "The rural farmers hoping to sell cattle of similar sizes are likely to incur losses because of the smuggling."

Imran added that the association had requested the home ministry to take action.

The home ministry on June 15 issued a statement mentioning that cattle-smuggling is strictly prohibited, and it is illegal to set up near the borders a Khatal, which is a place where cattle are kept or maintained for the purpose of trade.

The ministry is aware that certain individuals tried to set up an illegal Khatal by forging a ministry official's signature, and legal action has already been taken against them, it added.

Earlier on June 5, smugglers attempted to set up a Khatal near the border in Chapainawabganj by showing officers a letter signed by a deputy secretary of the home ministry.

The letter said the government gave permission to Abdus Samad, the owner of Samad Dairy Farm, to run a Khatal until July 30.

The authorities then detected that the ministry letter was forged.

Contacted, Samad said he was not involved with it, and somebody else had used his name.

The BGB in a statement on June 20 said it had increased surveillance to prevent cattle-smuggling.

On June 17, a man named Shamim Hasan, 32, went to Dhaldanga BGB camp in Kurigram around 9:40pm and offered money to the guards in exchange for an opportunity to smuggle cattle.

Shamim told officers that almost 5,000 cattle were waiting across the border to be brought in. The BGB men then handed him over to the police and filed a case with Bhurungamari Police Station, said a BGB statement from June 20.

SMUGGLING FROM MYANMAR

During a recent visit to Alikadam upazila of Bandarban, a correspondent of The Daily Star saw herds of cattle being brought in from Myanmar.

Several men shepherding the animals said they paid large sums to the Alikadam upazila parishad chairman, so that the authorities would turn a blind eye to smuggling.

A bull bought for about Tk 50,000 in Myanmar can be sold in Bangladesh for up to Tk 70,000, they said.

Abul Kalam, chairman of the upazila parishad, said some people were spreading rumours to ruin his image.

Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Alikadam Police Station, said the allegation of bribery was false. "We will take action if we get information of smuggling."

Lt Col Akhil Jaber, commander of 57 BGB, said the border guards were vigilant and they often conducted raids.

He added that the BGB seized 75 cattle on Wednesday near the border in Naikhongchhari.

MORE CATTLE THAN NEEDED

In 2022, the markets saw 1.21 crore animals for sale, but there was demand for only 99.21 lakh, according to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim told The Daily Star yesterday that there was demand for around 1.03 lakh animals this Eid. But the number of animals available for the purpose is 1.25 lakh, which means the supply is bigger than the demand.

He added that cattle were not being smuggled into the country.

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Cattle smugglers swing into action ahead of Eid

Apply various techniques to bring sacrificial animals from Myanmar, India
A bull jumps out of a boat in the capital’s Postagola. Traders are bringing sacrificial animals for sale at a makeshift cattle market there ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha. They say sale is yet to pick up. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Amid a ban on cattle import, smuggling from Myanmar and India continues unabated ahead of the Eid.

The smugglers often operate with blessings from local political leaders, bribe the Border Guard Bangladesh members, and, in one instance, they even forged a home ministry order to bring cattle into the country, according to sources in the racket.

The Daily Star has a copy of the "ministry order".

In Naikhongchhari, Bandarban, hundreds of cows, oxen and bulls are brought in from Myanmar every day, and the smugglers pay just Tk 100 to men from the upazila parishad for each animal, the sources said.

They added that BGB men receive a cut from the money.

Mohammad Imran Hossain, president of Bangladesh Dairy Farmers' Association, said, "Indian cattle are entering Bangladesh through the borders in Cumilla, Mymensingh, Chapainawabganj, and Sylhet, while those from Myanmar are brought in through Chakaria of Cox's Bazar and Bandarban."

The cattle from India and Myanmar are rather small in size, he said. "The rural farmers hoping to sell cattle of similar sizes are likely to incur losses because of the smuggling."

Imran added that the association had requested the home ministry to take action.

The home ministry on June 15 issued a statement mentioning that cattle-smuggling is strictly prohibited, and it is illegal to set up near the borders a Khatal, which is a place where cattle are kept or maintained for the purpose of trade.

The ministry is aware that certain individuals tried to set up an illegal Khatal by forging a ministry official's signature, and legal action has already been taken against them, it added.

Earlier on June 5, smugglers attempted to set up a Khatal near the border in Chapainawabganj by showing officers a letter signed by a deputy secretary of the home ministry.

The letter said the government gave permission to Abdus Samad, the owner of Samad Dairy Farm, to run a Khatal until July 30.

The authorities then detected that the ministry letter was forged.

Contacted, Samad said he was not involved with it, and somebody else had used his name.

The BGB in a statement on June 20 said it had increased surveillance to prevent cattle-smuggling.

On June 17, a man named Shamim Hasan, 32, went to Dhaldanga BGB camp in Kurigram around 9:40pm and offered money to the guards in exchange for an opportunity to smuggle cattle.

Shamim told officers that almost 5,000 cattle were waiting across the border to be brought in. The BGB men then handed him over to the police and filed a case with Bhurungamari Police Station, said a BGB statement from June 20.

SMUGGLING FROM MYANMAR

During a recent visit to Alikadam upazila of Bandarban, a correspondent of The Daily Star saw herds of cattle being brought in from Myanmar.

Several men shepherding the animals said they paid large sums to the Alikadam upazila parishad chairman, so that the authorities would turn a blind eye to smuggling.

A bull bought for about Tk 50,000 in Myanmar can be sold in Bangladesh for up to Tk 70,000, they said.

Abul Kalam, chairman of the upazila parishad, said some people were spreading rumours to ruin his image.

Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Alikadam Police Station, said the allegation of bribery was false. "We will take action if we get information of smuggling."

Lt Col Akhil Jaber, commander of 57 BGB, said the border guards were vigilant and they often conducted raids.

He added that the BGB seized 75 cattle on Wednesday near the border in Naikhongchhari.

MORE CATTLE THAN NEEDED

In 2022, the markets saw 1.21 crore animals for sale, but there was demand for only 99.21 lakh, according to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim told The Daily Star yesterday that there was demand for around 1.03 lakh animals this Eid. But the number of animals available for the purpose is 1.25 lakh, which means the supply is bigger than the demand.

He added that cattle were not being smuggled into the country.

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