Thus, unless India relaxes the ban for this Eid-ul-Adha, the prices of the local cows and goats, will very likely be very high as supply would be far short of the demand

Coping with the probable crisis over sacrificial animals

This year the country may face a crisis over sacrificial animals for Eid ul-Adha in the wake of the persisting Indian ban on exporting cows to Bangladesh. The ban has already made pricier beef in the markets here. Even greater than this, we are afraid, will be the problem whether many middle class people would be able to manage an animal for sacrifice during the coming Eid ul-Adha. According to a reliable estimate mentioned in the mainstream media, the demand for sacrificial animals in this Eid is about 70 lakh animals. But supply of the home-grown animals would be about 60 lakh. Therefore, a supply gap of around 10 lakh animals is likely to occur during the Eid.
Thus, unless India relaxes the ban for this Eid-ul-Adha, the prices of the local cows and goats, will very likely be very high as supply would be far short of the demand. It is common sense that when the supply of goods offered in markets are short of demand the prices of the latter are bidded up on the ground of scarcity. Thus, many persons who are intending to sacrifice animals might not be able to do so during the upcoming Eid although they never failed in this respect in the past following tradition or religious injunction. Needless to say, this deprivation and unhappiness on their part could lead to deep embarrassment for the government as well.
The festival is about 42 days away and the government must do something to reduce the demand and the supply gap. Bangladesh should request Indian authorities in advance for relaxing the ban on
cow export temporarily and only for the Eid period out of a consideration that Bangladeshis would be otherwise hard pressed to fulfil a religious duty
properly if such a relaxation is not allowed. As a
friendly and neighbourly gesture, India may favourably respond to our request. By one year Bangladesh can expand its livestock sector which then would meet the demand of animals in the next Eid ul-Adha and Bangladesh would no more be required to request India over the issue.
Recently from the planning ministry it was revealed that the government is going to give 5 lakh animals particularly to poor people of the char, river-prone and hilly regions to raise them after giving them training on animal husbandry. This is a welcome plan because it has the potential to contribute to poverty alleviation also.
But for making the livestock and dairy sector really prospective, the government has to generously offer loans and other inputs support. A strong livestock and dairy sector is only for the interest of the country, because on its development we no more have to drain away foreign currency for importing animals as well as milk powder. A stronger local livestock and dairy sector will help the expansion of our leather sector too while meeting adequately the demands for meat and other dairy produces. Employment generation will also be helped in the country where it counts most—at the grass roots level.

Thus, unless India relaxes the ban for this Eid-ul-Adha, the prices of the local cows and goats, will very likely be very high as supply would be far short of the demand

Coping with the probable crisis over sacrificial animals

This year the country may face a crisis over sacrificial animals for Eid ul-Adha in the wake of the persisting Indian ban on exporting cows to Bangladesh. The ban has already made pricier beef in the markets here. Even greater than this, we are afraid, will be the problem whether many middle class people would be able to manage an animal for sacrifice during the coming Eid ul-Adha. According to a reliable estimate mentioned in the mainstream media, the demand for sacrificial animals in this Eid is about 70 lakh animals. But supply of the home-grown animals would be about 60 lakh. Therefore, a supply gap of around 10 lakh animals is likely to occur during the Eid. Thus, unless India relaxes the ban for this Eid-ul-Adha, the prices of the local cows and goats, will very likely be very high as supply would be far short of the demand. It is common sense that when the supply of goods offered in markets are short of demand the prices of the latter are bidded up on the ground of scarcity. Thus, many persons who are intending to sacrifice animals might not be able to do so during the upcoming Eid although they never failed in this respect in the past following tradition or religious injunction. Needless to say, this deprivation and unhappiness on their part could lead to deep embarrassment for the government as well. The festival is about 42 days away and the government must do something to reduce the demand and the supply gap. Bangladesh should request Indian authorities in advance for relaxing the ban on cow export temporarily and only for the Eid period out of a consideration that Bangladeshis would be otherwise hard pressed to fulfil a religious duty properly if such a relaxation is not allowed. As a friendly and neighbourly gesture, India may favourably respond to our request. By one year Bangladesh can expand its livestock sector which then would meet the demand of animals in the next Eid ul-Adha and Bangladesh would no more be required to request India over the issue. Recently from the planning ministry it was revealed that the government is going to give 5 lakh animals particularly to poor people of the char, river-prone and hilly regions to raise them after giving them training on animal husbandry. This is a welcome plan because it has the potential to contribute to poverty alleviation also. But for making the livestock and dairy sector really prospective, the government has to generously offer loans and other inputs support. A strong livestock and dairy sector is only for the interest of the country, because on its development we no more have to drain away foreign currency for importing animals as well as milk powder. A stronger local livestock and dairy sector will help the expansion of our leather sector too while meeting adequately the demands for meat and other dairy produces. Employment generation will also be helped in the country where it counts mostat the grass roots level.