Readers’ Forum

Formal import of cattle from India

Bangladesh needs a good number of sacrificial animals like bull, ox and cow on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. Bangladesh does not have sufficient number of cattle as it requires to meet the demand. Its big neighbour India has huge number of such animals. Rasing cattle is a good business there leaving huge numbers to sell outside. Formal trade of cattle between the two countries can help Bangladesh to meet the demand of cattle.
This will help Indian cattle farmers too. Such formal trade will help to reduce smuggling from its present level.
The Indian Border Security Force frequently kills Bangladeshi cattle traders whenever they try to cross the border between Bangladesh and India.
In fact, both the countries have formally been engaged in importing and exporting many goods and commodities except cattle since the independence of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government should initiate a move for easy and formal import of cattle from India, especially from its seven sisters provinces (states).
However, Bangladesh government should undertake its own cattle-rearing project to raise up the needed number of animals as it demands.

Md Ashraf Hossain
Central Bashabo, Dhaka