‘Law enforcers must be more alert to ensure safety at cattle markets’
Slaughtering animals in front of residential houses and on streets will be dangerous amid the pandemic, speakers say at a virtual discussion
Law enforcers must be more vigilant to ensure hygiene and safety at cattle markets and to prevent crimes centring these marketplaces, speakers said at an online discussion on Sunday.
They urged using digital haats (markets) for buying sacrificial animals for the upcoming Eid and expressed concern that slaughtering animals in front of residential houses and on streets will be dangerous amid the pandemic.
The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) organised the discussion titled "The Overall Situation of Law and Order in the Country, Including the Animal Market for the Upcoming Holy Eid-ul-Adha."
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Dr Md Ziaur Rahman, professor of the Criminology Department at Dhaka University, said in his keynote speech that special slaughterhouses could be set up for sacrificial animals to limit public gathering.
Permission for slaughtering animals in front of residential houses and on roads should be halted, he also said.
Besides, a clear guideline for sellers, transporters and buyers should be formed to control infection among them, he added.
Moreover, law enforcers have to control various kinds of crimes – extortion, illegal toll collections, stealing, pick-pocketing, robbery etc – which see a rise centring cattle markets every year.
They should also strengthen security at borders to control illegal entrance of sacrificial animals in the country and thwart any possible attempt to create fake shortages of animals to increase price, Dr Ziaur Rahman said.
DCCI President Shams Mahmud said digital cattle haats are gaining popularity this year, even in village areas.
He urged law enforcers to play due roles – ensuring health safety and stopping fraudulences in cattle markets.
Bangladesh Tanners Association Chairman Md Shaheen Ahmed said this year's Qurbani Eid (Eid-ul-Adha) will be different as the lowest number of animals might be sacrificed – 40-45 percent of last year's figure.
This Eid brings a big opportunity for collecting rawhide whose business is worth around Tk40,000 crore, he said, adding that all people involved in rawhide collections this year have become unemployed and may resort to crimes over frustration.
Helal Uddin, president of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, said incidents of stealing sacrificial animals have already been happening in several areas.
e-Commerce Association President Shomi Kaiser said uninterrupted and non-fraudulent e-commerce service will be ensured during the Eid.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said they have taken preparations to control crimes and further spread of coronavirus in animal markets.
"We are ready to take any challenge," he said adding, "Our law enforcing agencies are on the field braving the risks."
Several other speakers also spoke at the programme, urging to take the immediate steps to contain all the offences during Eid-ul-Adha.
