The ‘unofficial’ cow trade

Cows are brought into Bangladesh from India in tens of thousands, a trade totally illegal because there is no agreement between the neighbours to trade in cattle.

This peaks before Eid-ul-Azha.

Traders say they get the animals to wade or swim across water bodies on the India-Bangladesh borders during monsoons.

It is a risky passage but becomes 'legal' when traders pay up revenue officials in Bangladesh. The duty was Tk 500 for a cow.

Most cows are brought in through the Putkhali corridor at Benapole.

Five kilometres south-west of Benapole Port Police Station, the ‘Khatals’ (cowsheds) in Putkhali are full with several hundred cows everyday.

Putkhali ‘Khatal’ Coordinator Rafikul Islam said almost 5,000 men from 3,000 families in the 15 kilometres stretch off Benapole border make their living from this cattle trade.

They make Tk 2,000 to 3,000 for moving a cow from India to the buyer in Bangladesh.

The cows in the ‘Khatal’ are then listed and Tk 500 per cow is paid as duty to the officials 15 kilometres away.

Shepherds put their lives at risk to ensure the passage and make quick money, said Islam.

Irregularities

Irregularities are rampant even within the organised segment of this illegal trade. Allegations are rife that traders do not show actual number of cows while paying duty and use one duty-slip several times.

The duty rate stands at Tk 500 but businessmen say the cost shoots up to almost Tk 2,000.

Putkhali BGB Camp Commander Subedar Samsur Rahman was forthcoming on how to bring in cows across the border.

“Indian traders sell their animals (cows) to traders in Bangladesh. They are cleared after Tk 500 is paid per cow at the corridor under BGB supervision.”

He however denied that same tokens are used several times.

Revenue officials take care of the duty, said BGB Deputy Director General Hasnat Mohammad Khairul Bashar.

The ‘Khatals’ are leased out by Deputy Commissioners through the Home Ministry.

These are not in the BGB's purview, he said.

‘Cows come swimming’

Official figures suggest almost 3.5 million cows are slaughtered in Bangladesh every year -- half of that during the Eid-ul-Azha.

Local cows are just not good enough to meet the huge demand.

Indian cows are also brought through Baker Khali of Chapainawabganj’s Sadar Upazila, Monohorpur of Sibganj, Masudpur and Gomostapur and several other border points.

They are made to swim across when rivers swell up during the monsoon.

Naogaon’s Sapahara, Porsha, Patnitala, Hapania of Dhamir Haat, Kolmudanga, Sonadanga, Nitpur, Doarpal, Kaluparha, Bastabar, Chakchandi and Hatshail border routes are the usual passageways.

Bhomra of Saatkhira’s Sadar Upazila, Gazipur, Ghona, Boikari and Madra of Kushkhali Kolaroya, Chandudia, Sonabari, Komorpur of Debhata, Bhatshala and Khanzia of Kaliganj are also used.

Cows come through Medenipur of Chuadanga’s Jibannagar, Benipur and Damurhuda Upazilas Munshipur and Thakurpur without being stopped.

Most cows sent to Bangladesh from India originate in northern India -- the Haryanvi and Sindhi variety are the most prized because of their size .

Chuadanga 6 BGB Battalion Lt Col SM Moniruzzaman told bdnews24.com that 171,341 cows were documented coming in through these borders last year.

This year , he said, 89,771 cows had made it into Bangladesh from India so far.

Damurhuda Upazila’s Karpasdanga Cattle Duty Corridor In-charge Khairul Bashar said more than 200 cows enter everyday, which is twice the usual figure.

He said more than 40 ‘Khatals’ were closed despite the rush.

The government earned more than Tk 130 million from 272,628 animals that entered through the corridor last year, a survey of the trade during July- September 2013 indicated.

That was before the last year's Eid-ul-Azha.

So far more than Tk 60 million has accrued to the government exchequer from the 136,665 cows brought in during July-September this year.

A recent seminar at the Observer Research Foundation in Kolkata recommended legalisation of the cow trade.

Experts from India and Bangladesh said the cow trade leads to most border firings in which people are killed.

The governments also lose out on revenues, they said, while recommending that the trade should be legalised.