Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdur Rahman has said Bangladesh is unlikely to face any shortage of sacrificial animals during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha as more than five lakh locally-reared cattle than that of the last year will be supplied to the market.

Addressing a press conference at the conference room of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday (April 28), he said that Bangladesh is fully prepared to meet the demand of sacrificial animals during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

“We’re taking necessary preparations with great caution so that our sacrificial animal markets remain stable. We’ve already talked to the farmers so that the sacrificial animals remain within the purchasing power of people. We’ve assured them and they have also assured us. This time, there is no need to import cattle this year as the number of sacrificial animals is much higher in the country, he said. “The cattle which are reared at farms in our country is enough to meet our requirements,” he said.

Abdur Rahman also sought cooperation of all so that none could destabilise the sacrificial animal markets. “We’ll be able to celebrate the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha with pleasure.”

According to the minister, there were 1.25 crore sacrificial animals available in the cattle markets last year, but 19 lakh of those remained unsold. This time, more than 1.30 crore sacrificial animals would be available in the cattle markets.

Asked how the government would control the prices of sacrificial animals as prices go up every year due to extortion from farmers on their way to Dhaka, Abdur Rahman said, “A particular group of people tend to take advantage ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. As a result, it becomes difficult to control the situation. However, we will hold an inter-ministerial meeting ahead of Eid-ul-Azha and talk how to deal with such a situation. We will also decide how to stop extortion from cattle traders on their way to to Dhaka.”

The minister further said there is no decision of the government to import cattle this year though a section of people tend to bring those through borders secretly. “We hope that the ministry concerned would take stern measures at the border,” he said.