Published: 09:01 AM, 04 May 2026
‘Over 10m sacrificial animals ready for Eid-ul-Adha; no imports needed’
Ahead of the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Adha, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid has assured that there will be no shortage of sacrificial animals this year. He stated that more than 10 million animals are currently ready across the country, eliminating the need for imports.
The minister made these remarks on Sunday (May 3) at a press conference held in the conference room of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock at the Secretariat. The briefing focused on assessing demand, ensuring supply, and facilitating the smooth transportation of sacrificial animals to remote areas for the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha.
According to the minister, the latest government data indicates that the number of cattle, goats, sheep, and buffaloes available with farmers exceeds the projected demand. Therefore, no crisis or shortage of sacrificial animals is expected this year.
He also noted that in the past, the influx of animals from neighboring countries during Eid caused financial losses to local farmers. However, stricter controls have now been enforced, including the closure of border cattle markets, to prevent illegal entry of animals.
Regarding market management, the minister said that more than 3,600 cattle markets will be set up nationwide. Veterinary teams will be deployed at these markets to ensure animal health, providing immediate treatment if any animal falls ill.
To maintain law and order, members of the administration and law enforcement agencies will remain on duty at the markets around the clock. Strict monitoring will also be in place to ensure that traders are not harassed during transportation. On online livestock trading, the minister highlighted a growing trend among young farmers to sell animals through digital platforms. He confirmed that no taxes or fees will be imposed on such online sales.
Addressing leather preservation, the minister said that butchers have been trained to prevent damage to hides during Eid, which will help maintain leather quality.
According to the latest data from the Department of Livestock Services, the total number of sacrificial animals available this year is estimated at approximately 12,333,840. This includes 5,695,878 cattle and buffaloes, 6,632,307 goats and sheep, and 5,655 animals of other species such as camels and dumba. In contrast, the estimated maximum demand across all divisions stands at around 10,106,334 animals. This suggests a surplus of approximately 2,227,506 animals this year. During the last Eid-ul-Adha, the estimated availability was 12,447,337 animals, with an initial projection of a surplus exceeding 2 million.
However, the actual number of animals slaughtered was 9,136,734, leaving an eventual surplus of about 3.31 million animals.
>>AA Emran Emon
