The Saudi Arabian authorities have agreed to import both raw and processed halal meat from Bangladesh. The government has finalised its preparation, including drafting of a policy, to export these items to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), sources in the commerce ministry said. The draft policy is being prepared fulfilling all requirements, including Saudi Arabia’s terms and references. The government will send halal meat, such as beef, mutton, buffalo meat and cooked meat, to Saudi Arabia.
At present, Pakistan, Australia and New Zeeland export halal meat to the country. So, there is a huge prospect for meat export from Bangladesh. A deal will be signed between Bangladesh and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).  “The draft policy to export meat to the KSA has been prepared. It will be sent to the Saudi Arabian authorities for  approval,” commerce ministry’s senior secretary, Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, told The Independent. The government plans to explore new export markets across the world, he said, adding that officials in  Bangladesh’s embassies are working on it. “The Saudi Arabian government wants to import meat from Bangladesh to meet its growing demand. The policy has been prepared keeping in mind international standards and the Saudi hygienic process. We hope it will work. Besides, we have got response from other countries too,” Mamoon added.
Asked how would the government meet the local demand as the country faces shortage of cattle during Eid-ul-Azha, the senior secretary said: “It will encourage people for more cattle farming across the country. We think, it won’t be a problem. The country is capable of meeting the local demand.”
“Bangladesh’s economic and commercial counsellors are working in different countries to explore new markets. If the initiative is successful, it will help Bangladesh diversify its export market across the globe,” he hoped.
Bangladesh imports a large quantity of cattle from different countries during Eid-ul-Azha, he said, adding that because of this local farmers suffer losses.  
“The government wants to encourage farmers by ensuring a good price for their cattle. It will motivate them on farming cattle in future,” he further added.
“The SFDA agreed to import halal meat from Bangladesh, but has set some conditions,” Mohammad Abul Hassan, economic counsellor in the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, told The Independent recently.
“The SFDA requested that a draft agreement be sent to it. So, I am here in the country to help in preparing the draft as per the KSA’s requirements,” he said in reply to a query.
Replying to another query, Hasan said: “There is no statistical data in my hand. But to the best of my knowledge, around 500 kg of meat is sold daily in each shopping mall in Saudi Arabia. So, there is a daily demand for around 1,000 tonnes of meat in that country.”
Considering the huge demand, Bangladesh has taken the initiative to export raw and processed halal meat to the KSA, he added.
According to the draft policy, the Islamic Foundation of Bangladesh (IFB) will assign Imams (Islamic scholars) in slaughter houses to see that the cattle are slaughtered according to Islamic rituals. Later, the meat will be processed following directives of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).
The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) will take steps to produce standard cattle, maintaining standard and hygiene. Those farming or rearing healthy cattle will be provided with all kinds of support, the policy said.
According to the Bangladesh Raw Hide Merchants’ Association and the Tanners’ Association of Bangladesh, around 1.2 crore cattle are slaughtered in the country annually. Of these, 70 lakh are cows.
Bangladesh gets 30-35 lakh heads of cattle annually from India. Twenty lakh cows are brought on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha alone, the two associations said.