Khulna: In preparation for Eid-ul-Azha, the second-largest religious festival for Muslims, the Department of Livestock (DoL) in Khulna Division has completed a comprehensive training programme aimed at ensuring the safe slaughter, proper skinning, and meat preservation of sacrificial animals. The programme is part of the government’s broader initiative to supply healthy animals and curb unethical practices in cattle fattening.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the training focused on discouraging the use of harmful steroids and drugs used to artificially fatten animals. It was designed to raise awareness and build skills among those directly involved in the sacrificial process, including professional and seasonal butchers, imams, madrasa students, meat traders, and other key stakeholders.
DoL officials reported that a total of 1,896 professional butchers and 2,016 seasonal butchers, along with imams and students, successfully completed the training. Additionally, 341 community awareness meetings (Uthan Baithak) were held across the division. The DoL collaborated with the Islamic Foundation, mosque imams, skin traders, cattle farm owners, and other relevant parties to organize these sessions.
Training also extended to 212 DoL officials and 9,328 cattle farm owners, focusing on the harmful impact of artificial fattening methods on human health. The department conducted 721 awareness meetings, visited 5,546 healthy cattle farms, and distributed 27,747 informational leaflets and posters. Furthermore, DoL teams inspected 6,433 naturally fattened cattle farms and distributed an additional 23,111 leaflets and posters to promote safe meat production practices.
Dr. Nurullah Md Ahsan, Director of the DoL in Khulna division, highlighted the rise in the use of steroids and harmful drugs for fattening cattle ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. This practice is prevalent across cattle markets in 10 districts of the division and elsewhere in the country. To combat this, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has planned to deploy a total of 19,098 veterinary medical teams in 3,978 cattle markets nationwide, including in Khulna, during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
Dr. Ahsan emphasized the government’s strong stance on ensuring people purchase healthy animals and the importance of educational outreach in promoting scientific methods of cattle fattening and care. These initiatives aim to protect public health and support the proper handling of animal by-products, especially hides, which can generate valuable foreign exchange through export.
He also reminded that under the Fisheries and Animal Feed Act-2010, individuals using steroids unscientifically face up to one year in jail, a fine of up to Tk 50,000, or both. Natural fattening methods are safe for human consumption, he emphasized, adding that proper skinning and preservation of sacrificial animals is not only vital for hygiene but also holds economic importance through the leather export industry.