United News of Bangladesh

A total of 93,67,418 sacrificial animals were slaughtered across the country during this year's Eid-ul-Adha, said Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salauddin Tuku on Thursday. Out of the total slaughtered animals, 48, 64,158 were cattle and buffaloes, 45,02,233 were goats and sheep, and 1,027 were other animals, he said, presenting the preliminary data gleaned by the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) from eight divisions. He disclosed the figures at a press briefing held at the conference room of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Sultan Salauddin Tuku said the 100 percent demand of sacrificial animals was met from local sources. This year, the domestic supply of sacrificial animals was 1,23,33,840. After meeting the demand during the Eid, there is still a surplus of 29, 66,422 animals in the country, he said. Focusing on the division-wise statistics, the state minister said the Dhaka division recorded the highest number of sacrifices, while the Rajshahi division secured the second position. In the Dhaka division, maximum 23,51,666 animals were sacrificed, followed closely by 23,42,869 animals in the Rajshahi division. Besides, 17,34,025 animals were sacrificed in Chattogram division, 10,50,554 in Rangpur division, 8,46,005 in Khulna division, 4,00,160 in Barishal division, 3,67,818 in Mymensingh division, and 2,74,321 in Sylhet division. Compared to the data with the previous year, the state minister said that the number of sacrificial animals increased by 2, 31,418 this year, he said. Tuku said the government is actively working on implementing modern technologies and farmer-friendly policies to further boost the rural economy and ensure the sustainable development of the livestock sector. Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Delwar Hossain, DLS Director General Shahzaman Khan, among others, were present at the briefing.