Horse Meat Sale: Jaya files writ petition to ban

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking directives to prohibit the commercial use of horse meat in Bangladesh.

The petition was submitted on Monday by the Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation, A K Khan Healthcare Trust, and actress and animal welfare activist Jaya Ahsan in the public interest.

Barrister Sakib Mahbub, Dr Cynthia Farid, and Advocate Sajid Hasan will represent the petitioners.

The petitioners have requested that the authorities be instructed to formulate a national guideline and action plan within 60 days to eradicate the illegal trade, immediately halt the auction of seized and sick horses, and establish a dedicated facility, ‘Abhayaranya-Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation’, for the care and rehabilitation of rescued animals.

The petitioners stressed that without prompt judicial intervention, the illegal trade will continue, posing serious public health risks and perpetuating extreme cruelty to animals.

According to the writ, a joint operation in early November 2025 by the Gazipur District Administration, Department of Livestock, Rapid Action Battalion-1 (RAB), and police uncovered an organised illegal horse meat trading ring.

A cotton factory had been converted into an illicit slaughterhouse, where authorities recovered 36 critically ill horses, carcasses of eight slaughtered animals, and a large quantity of meat ready for distribution.

The petition states that meat from sick animals was being fraudulently sold as human food, creating a significant public health hazard.

Despite repeated requests to authorities, no effective legal action has been taken, prompting the call for High Court intervention.

The petition seeks a time-bound investigation into the illegal horse meat trade, resolution of related allegations, and directives to initiate appropriate legal proceedings, with a report to be submitted to the High Court.

Rescued horses were found in extremely unhygienic conditions, suffering from malnutrition, infections, open wounds, insect infestations, tumours, and other medical complications.

Laboratory tests conducted by Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University detected antibiotic-resistant bacteria, parasitic infections, fungal contamination, and suspected tuberculosis.

The writ highlights that contaminated horse meat was being marketed as beef, thereby misleading the public and posing severe health risks.