Fisheries, Livestock, and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid on Sunday said the government has taken special security measures across the country’s cattle markets to ensure the safety of traders, farmers, and buyers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

To prevent the spread of counterfeit currency or fake note, detector machines have been installed at the cattle markets, while dedicated banking services have been made available on-site, allowing sellers to safely deposit their earnings or open new accounts instantly to secure their flow of money, he said.

The minister made these remarks while exchanging views with journalists after visiting the Diabari cattle market in the capital on Sunday morning.

Responding to a query, he assured that Bangladesh has an adequate supply of sacrificial animals for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, and this year’s demand can be fully met with locally reared livestock.

Aminur Rashid said the volume of locally produced cattle, goats and buffaloes is more than sufficient to meet the local demand.

He suggested that transitioning to a ‘live weight’ pricing system in the future would make transactions more transparent and standardised.

The Livestock Minister dismissed the possibility of market manipulation, saying with thousands of buyers and sellers interacting freely, it is highly difficult to create an artificial syndicate.

Animal prices are determined solely by market competition and the dynamics of supply and demand, he added.

The minister said the government has deployed adequate personnel to ensure discipline, security, and smooth transactions at cattle markets in the capital and across the country.

Director General of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) Md. Shahzaman Khan was present during the visit.