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Published : 31 May 2026, 08:35 PM
A National Zoo official has been suspended over identifying the “viral” albino buffalo as “Donald Trump” through a sign displayed at the animal’s enclosure.
The government on Saturday issued a notification suspending zoo curator Atikur Rahman on allegations of misconduct.
The order, however, did not specify the nature of the misconduct, and no official explanation was immediately available.
A Fisheries and Livestock Ministry official, speaking to bdnews24.com on condition of anonymity, said higher authorities viewed the display of a buffalo’s nameplate bearing the name of a foreign head of state as inappropriate.
“Government affairs cannot be run based on what goes viral on Facebook. Displaying a buffalo’s nameplate with the name of a country’s president at a government facility was not considered acceptable.”
“There were also reports that the spelling of the name was incorrect,” the official said.
The rare albino buffalo had been reared for 10 months at Rabeya Agro Farm in Narayanganj after being purchased from Rajshahi City Cattle Market.
The animal was nicknamed “Donald Trump” because of its blond locks of hair and light skin, along with facial features that were said to resemble those of the US president.
After creating a buzz both at home and abroad, the sacrificial animal was bought back from its buyer and transferred to the National Zoo in Mirpur on Wednesday night.
During the Eid holidays, the animal has become one of the zoo’s most popular attractions, drawing large crowds to Block L-07 and, according to visitors, rivalling the attention typically given to lions and tigers.
