Dhaka: Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter announced today the launch of a special train service for the first time to transport sacrificial animals from North Bengal to Chattogram via Dhaka during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to manage the safe and efficient transportation of animals for the festival. At a press conference at the ministry’s conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat, Akhter emphasized compliance with the Animal Welfare Act-2019 for transporting animals by train or waterways.
The adviser assured that there is no need to import livestock this year, as the country has an additional 20.68 lakh livestock to meet domestic demand. To ensure the quality and safety of the sacrificial animals, the government is also training farmers to prevent the use of harmful substances like steroids and hormones for animal fattening.
Mobile courts, jointly operated by district administrations and livestock offices, will continue monitoring and enforcing compliance with safety standards. Akhter noted that over 53,263 farms have been inspected, and awareness has been raised among workers about the adverse impacts of harmful chemical use on livestock.
In response to concerns about livestock transport security, Akhter stated that law enforcement agencies, including the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, district administrations, and livestock officials, will collaborate to prevent the hijacking of livestock transport trucks. Additionally, a central control room at the Department of Livestock Services will operate a hotline (16358) to address any issues related to animal transport.
Ministry data projects approximately 12.4 million animals will be available for sacrifice this year. This includes 5.6 million cattle and buffalo, 6.8 million goats and sheep, and over 5,500 animals of other species. With anticipated demand considered, around 2.07 million animals are expected to be in surplus.