No sacrificial animal import this year: minister

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim today said the government won't allow import of sacrificial animals on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

"Under no circumstance, government will allow bringing cattle from abroad this year," he said while addressing an online meeting on ensuring the supply and sale of healthy cattle at 'haat'.

The minister noted that the government will take all necessary measures to ensure the animal sacrifice in a healthy manner.

"With a view to protect the environment, all necessary arrangements will be made for marketing and selling of sacrificial animals in a healthy way during Eid-ul-Azha," the minister said.

He cautioned all to abide by health guidelines at cattle markets and urged to discharge own duties with responsibility and ethics.

Recalling previous experience, Minister Rezaul said, "We want no incident of extortion to happen this year. If animals are sold from farms, the lessee won't be allowed to collect tolls from there. "

He also assured that there is an adequate supply of sacrificial animals.

According to the Department of Livestock Services, there is a stock of around 1.18 crore of sacrificial animals this year, he said.

The minister mentioned that 1,200 medical teams will work at the cattle markets to prevent sale of sick cattle and monitoring teams will be formed in coordination with the officials of the ministry.

He also revealed that the authorities are trying to focus on arranging online markets due to the coronavirus situation.

Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Raunak Mahmud, Additional Secretary KaziWasi Uddin, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Abdul JabbarSikder, among others, participated in the occasion.