Siam Ahmed:

Cattle traders in the northern region including Sirajganj district are in fear of facing harassment like extortion and robbery during transportation of their cattle to different destinations ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Recent incidents of highway robbery and dacoity are also the main reasons behind the concern of animal traders and buyers. They urged tight security and beef up of police petrol on roads and highways and even river routes to protect them from further untoward incidents like robbery or dacoity.
Sources said that, around 650,000 sacrificial animals have been waiting for sales in Sirajganj district centering upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
Animal farmers and traders are expected to transport those animals to different places of the country including Dhaka and Chattogram for sale after fulfilling the local demand.
Traders have expressed concerns about possible insecurity and harassment while transporting these animals via roads, highways and waterways to different markets both within the district and beyond.
Many cattle traders including Abdur Rahim, Khalek and Salam, who came to Ratonkandi cattle market in Sirajganj Sadar upazila, said that, transporting sacrificial cattle by river route is considered as most safer than other routes including road or highway.
They claimed that, transporting cattle through river river route is not only more cost-effective but also more secure compared to roads and highways.
However, this year, traders are worried about incidents of robbery, mugging and extortion at various river ports.
Cattle traders like Soleman, Azgor, Alomgir and Saidul, who came to the Boalia cattle market in Ullapara upazila and Chandairkona cattle markets in Raiganj upazila of the district recently also expressed similar concern over the safety on roads and highways.
They complained that, when transporting cattle by truck, mini-truck or engine-run vehicles like Nosimon, Korimon or Bhutbhuti through highways and roads, they almost face harassment like extortion at various points. On top of that, there’s always the risk of robbery and theft along the way.
Munshi Abul Kalam Azad, a cattle trader from Jamirta Bazaar in Shahjadpur said that, traders transport livestock by engine-powered boats through the Jamuna River to various cattle markets in Dhaka and Narayanganj. Along this river route, temporary cattle markets are set up before Eid-ul-Adha. Traders are often forcibly stopped at these markets and compelled to unload and sell their animals due to pressure and obstacle of the market committees. As a result, they frequently incur financial losses.
These traders have urged the authorities to take special measures to ensure their safety and security during the transportation of livestock by road, highway and waterway. They demand protection from harassment, robbery, and mugging.
Sirajganj District Livestock Officer Dr. A.K.M. Anwarul Haque Sabuj said that, “This year, the number of sacrificial animals in the district stands at approximately 655,904. Nearly half of these animals have been raised in the Char (shoals) areas. The local demand of animals is around 259,241 and the remaining 396,663 will be transported to different parts of the country ahead of Eid. So, there is a need to provide safety to the traders as well as buyers. Not only that, traders must be aware about spread of fake notes centering the Eid festival so that none of them are cheated by the syndicate members.”
He also mentioned that, due to the abundant grass production in the Jamuna char areas, many farmers in these regions have leaned to cattle farming and fattening centering Eid-ul-Azha. Since the animals are raised naturally in these char areas, there is a high demand for them across the country for sacrificing during the Qurbani.
According to the District Livestock Office, a total of 655,904 animals have been prepared for sacrifice this year across the nine upazilas of the district. Of them, there are 184,800 bulls, oxen and cows. Besides, there are around 400,000 goats, 3,875 buffaloes and 67,303 sheep for sacrificing.
Tangail Region Naval Police Super Md. Sohel Rana said that, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, extensive preparations including rising regular patrolling have been taken for security on the river routes for the transportation of passengers, goods and sacrificial animals, so that, they can move smoothly on the waterways. At the same time, awareness is being made among the people over their transportations.
Md. Shahid Ullah, Police Super of Highway’s Bogura circle also requested not to transport animals in illegal vehicles and said that, “Adequate security measures have been taken on the highways of the northern region on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. There is no reason to worry about security. At the same time, both buyers and sellers should be aware when transporting sacrificial animals. The official requested everyone to transact through banks instead of taking cash. He also said that legal action will be taken if any kind of extortion is done on the highways.”
Md. Faruk Hossain, Police Super in Sirajganj said that, “Special security measures have been taken to prevent robberies, snatching and harassment of sellers and buyers during the animal transport to the sacrificial animal markets.”
Sirajganj Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Ganapati Roy said that, “Legal action will be taken if any temporary animal market is set up except for leased animal markets on the occasion of the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Azha. Besides, the administration and law enforcement agencies will be vigilant to prevent any untoward incident at the sacrificial animal market.”