Dhaka: More than 91 lac animals were sacrificed during Eid-ul-Azha in Bangladesh this year as cows and goats account for the largest number, according to the Department of Livestock Services. Out of the total 91,36,734 animals sacrificed, 47,05,106 were cows and buffaloes, 44,30,668 were goats and sheep and 960 were others, said an official release.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the least number of animals, 3,19,823, were sacrificed in the Sylhet division. Mymensingh division ranked second in terms of least sacrificed animals with the number being 3,83,162. The highest number of animals was sacrificed this year in the Rajshahi division, totaling 23,24,971 cattle. Following Rajshahi, the most sacrifices were made in the Dhaka division with a number of 2,185,040.
In addition, 17,53,732 animals were sacrificed in the Chattogram division. A total of 8,04,224 cattle were sacrificed in the Khulna division, 400,783 cattle in the Barishal division, while 964,999 were sacrificed in the Rangpur division.
The department stated that this year’s calculation was made by collecting information on the basis of stratified random sampling. The methodology involved collecting at least one percent samples from 3 villages (small, medium, and large) in each upazila.
According to the department, 33,10,603 sacrificial animals were unsold this time. The reason for this, the department said, is that the production of sacrificial animals was high this year, making it not unusual for some animals to remain unsold. Additionally, these unsold animals will be needed in various rituals and ceremonies.