Kazi Zahidul Hasan :Cattle are entering Bangladesh from neighbouring countries through illegal channels without animal quarantine, posing a potential risk for the outbreak of trans-boundary diseases here, experts said.At the same time, they said, local farmers are using steroid hormone for fattening the sacrificial animals, which can increase the risk of various types of cancers in human body if consumed. “Cattle are coming from India, Myanmar and Nepal through illegal channels for the sale in local markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha without health check-up would be a major source of trans-boundary diseases here,” said Md Abdus Samad, a Professor of Veterinary Science of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), on Saturday. He added, although animal quarantine is a must to prevent invasion by trans-boundary diseases, the authorities are yet to take effective steps to bring illegally imported animals under health check up. “The government should check illegal entry of cattle immediately because entry of a single animal carrying disease could cause an outbreak of the diseases like anthrax, mad cow and foot mouth diseases (FMD) in the country,” he said.When asked, Professor Abdus Samad said, “Beef fattening by using steroid hormone can also increase the risk of deadly disease like cancer in human body. The government should also look into the matter considering interest of public health. The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) established quarantine stations at the entry points of cattle from India. There were adequate numbers of veterinary medical teams to examine health of imported animals.”These stations remained effective till cattle were being traded officially between the two neighbouring countries. Now, live animals are entering the country illegally leaving these stations idle” a senior DLS official told The New Nation on Saturday, asking not to be named.He said, the authorities concerned should stop entry of cattle from neighbouring countries when adequate numbers of sacrificial animals was in the local farms. Such an entry is detrimental for local farmers.According to him, about 4.0 million cows and 6.9 million goats are in the country to meet the demand during the Eid-ul-Azha. So there would be no scarcity of cattle in the country this year. When asked, the DLS official said, there would be veterinary medical teams at about 494 cattle markets across the country to examine health of sacrificial animals.He also warned that legal action would be taken against those who would be found involved with using steroid hormone for fattening sacrificial animals.Responding to a question, the DLS official said, Bangladesh would not be a risk-free country for the outbreak of trans-boundary diseases until illegal entry of cattle from neighbouring countries was stopped.
