Smuggled 'infected' cattle meat on sale in border areas
Smuggled Indian cattle meat being sold in a border area of Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat district yesterday as a section of locals, who are hardly aware of the health hazards posed by the meat allegedly from diseased cattle, often throng the border areas to get it for half the prices than that of the local market. PHOTO: STAR
Sale of smuggled Indian cattle meat in several border areas of Dinajpur and Joypurhat districts is now a common scene as hundreds of buyers thong there to get the meat for less than half of local market price. But the meat, allegedly of cattle that are sold out and slaughtered after getting infected with different diseases, poses serious health hazard for consumers, said livestock officials and locals. Against the backdrop of anthrax infection in a few northern districts, the situation has become a matter of concern among locals. The price of one kg of meat is Tk 250 in the local market but the meat smuggled from India is selling only for Tk 110 to 120 a kg as smugglers regularly bring the Indian meat. The border areas of Mongla and Haripukur of Hakimpur upazila, Katla, Bhaigarh, Achintapur, Raninagar, Chowtha of Birampur upazila of Dinajpur, Atapara, Chechra, Koya, Uchna, Hatkhola of Pachbibi upazila of Joypurhat are being used as 'safe points' for smuggling the meat to Bangladesh lands. Mostafizur Rahman Milon, a local journalist in Hakimpur upazila, said the meat of Indian cattle is regularly brought to Bangladesh territory without the approval of authorities concerned. Attracted by its low prices, the eatery owners of the upazila and other areas often go to the border areas to buy the meat. "The meat brought from across the Indian border is generally of the cattle that are slaughtered when the animals fall sick, being infected with different diseases. It poses high risk of infection by animal-related diseases including anthrax for the consumers," said an official of Hakimpur upazila livestock department seeking anonymity. The brokers smuggle it into Bangladesh land in connivance with some unscrupulous border guards of both countries as most Indians avoid the meat, especially beef, on religion grounds, while it has huge demand in Bangladesh market, he added. When contacted, Panchbibi Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Mamun Ur Rashid said he and other officials of his department are aware about the trade of smuggled Indian meat in bordering areas but they have hardly any scope to conduct tests as the meat is sold out immediately after its arrival to local market.
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