Cattle arriving from Myanmar

Cattle have started arriving in the country from neighbouring Myanmar ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

Local cattle traders say they have set a target for importing around 25,000 cattle from Myanmar.

Some 1,520 cows, 387 buffaloes and five goats had already been imported from Myanmar through Shah Parir Dwip corridor along the Naf river in the first 12 days of September, according to Teknaf land port customs sources.

Besides the 25,000 cattle, 4,118 head of cattle were imported from Myanmar in July and August, sources added.

There would be no crisis of sacrificial animals during the Eid, claimed Didar Hossain, president of Teknaf C&F Agents Association.

The traders said the cattle imported from Myanmar had not yet been taken to the markets in Cox's Bazar and Chittagong as the price was still low. These animals would be brought to the markets when the price started to increase.

A top cattle trader of Teknaf, Abu Sayeed, said the cattle traders of Teknaf, Hnila, Sabrang and Shah Parir Dwip had kept 3,000 head of cattle ready for sale.

Talking to this correspondent on September 11, he said the wholesale traders from Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Feni, Comilla and Noakhali had not yet come there for collecting cattle imported from Myanmar.

Locals of Puran Nazar in Hnila, Palong Khali and Hoaikong alleged that cattle were smuggled in from Myanmar through some isolated and remote points of the Naf.

However, Matiur Rahman, Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) Shah Parir Dwip BOP commander, said there was no scope for cattle smuggling.

He said the cattle were given clearance to enter the country after examining the imported cattle properly.

Cattle traders Emdad Ullah, Farid Boli, Shahidul Islam and Mohammad Sharif said they were not facing any problems in importing cattle.

There is an allegation that a number of dishonest traders are feeding medicine to cows to make the imported cattle fat quickly. Sources said Dexamethasone, a type of steroid medication, is being used to fatten up the cows.

Two cattle traders on condition of anonymity told this correspondent that they bought some weak and small-size cows several months ago and were feeding the cows with Dexamethasone for fattening them within a short time. They did it as there was a demand for those cows ahead of Eid.

Cows and buffaloes collect excessive water in their bodies after being fed with Dexamethasone. It can damage their kidneys, said AM Khalequzzaman, Teknaf upazila livestock officer.

Dexamethasone is not meant for feeding the cows. Meat of the cows given Dexamethasone is harmful for human consumption, said Titu Chandra Shil, health officer of Teknaf Upazila Health Complex.

The BGB had been working round the clock to make the import of cattle from Myanmar through Shah Parir Dwip corridor hassle-free, said Maj Abdul Hannan Khan, acting commander of BGB 42 Battalion in Teknaf.