Minister says India’s cow export ban sparked Bangladesh cattle boom

India’s decision to strictly enforce the ban on cow export has worked to Bangladesh’s advantage, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda thinks.

He says the decision taken by India a few years ago has led to a boom in cattle production, easing pressure on ‘imports’.

The minister made the observation during a visit to the Gabtoli Cattle Market in Dhaka on Sunday ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the ministry said in a press release.

“In hindsight, it proved to be a blessing in disguise for us when India stopped supplying cow to our country. Now we are self-sufficient in livestocks,” the minister said.

He is happy with the ‘huge’ supply of local cattle in the market.

There will be no shortage of cattle during Eid this year as Bangladesh has around 11.5 million cattle ready for sacrifice while over 10 million cattle were sold during Eid-ul-Azha last year, according to the ministry.

Over 23.2 million cattle are slaughtered in Bangladesh every year, and half of these are sacrificed during the Eid-ul-Azha, the livestock ministry says.

Bangladeshi farmers always demand a stop to cow import from India -- where slaughtering the animal, revered by many devout Hindus as semi-divine, is banned -- to get fair price of local cattle.