Staff Correspondent:

A mobile court has conducted an operation in Hyderabad area under Gazipur Metropolitan’s Sadar Metro police station to stop the sale of horse meat.

The move comes following recent controversy over horse meat sales in the area. Citing public health and ethical concerns, the authorities have prohibited the slaughter and sale of horse meat.

The raid was carried out on Tuesday (18 March) by Gazipur Sadar Circle’s Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Jalal Uddin, along with Gazipur Sadar Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Mohammad Shahin Mia.

During the operation, meat seller Shafiqul Islam was summoned and strictly warned against slaughtering and selling horse meat. Authorities ordered the immediate cessation of sales and announced regular monitoring to ensure compliance.

The sale of horse meat has sparked mixed reactions among locals. On Monday (17 March), Dhaka Divisional Commissioner and Gazipur City Corporation Administrator Sharaf Uddin Chowdhury discussed the issue with journalists, where demands were raised to ban horse meat sales. The following day, the authorities conducted the raid.

Gazipur Sadar Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Mohammad Shahin Mia said, “According to the Animal Slaughter and Meat Control Act of 2011, slaughtering animals and selling meat without health inspection and a valid licence is a punishable offence, with provisions for up to one year of imprisonment and fines.”