Over 1cr sacrificial animals ready for Qurbani: minister

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim has said over one crore cattle are ready in the country for Qurbani (sacrifice) during the Eid-ul-Azha this year.

"Sick animals will not be allowed to enter the sacrificial animal market and medical teams will be active in each market," the minister told the news agency in an online interview.

Asked whether the Covid-19 pandemic would reduce the number of sacrifices, the minister said, "We have 1 crore sacrificial animals for this year's Qurbani." Usually, some family sacrifices five to six animals during Eid-ul-Azha, said the minister, adding that they were apprehensive that they will not do that this year.

Meanwhile, low-income families have been struggling to recover the financial loss of Covid-19 pandemic, cyclone Amphan and Bulbul, he said.

"I think some of them will not sacrifice animals if they are incapable of, and middle-income people also may not participate in Qurbani this year," the minister said.

"I guess the number of sacrifices will come down this year in comparison with the previous year," he said.

Asked if the ministry has taken steps to stop entry of harmful steroid and hormonal medicine for animals through borders before Eid-ul-Azha, SM Rezaul Karim said, "Border security is not under my ministry. We urged authorities concerned to stop animal entry from India, Myanmar or any country as sufficient numbers of animals are being produced here in Bangladesh."

Livestock offices in bordering areas were also asked to be alert as no animal can enter Bangladesh illegally, he added.

Answering a question about the livestock ministry's step to stop rawhide smuggling, the minister said BGB will supervise this issue.

"We don't want a single rawhide going out through the border," he said.

"The commerce ministry will see if it is necessary to export rawhide or not, but we want fair price for it and let it not be spoiled," Karim said.