Cattle slaughter dips by 92pc in city
A butcher shop at Moghbazar in the city remains temporarily closed due to the sudden spread of anthrax in the country. Photo: Anisur Rahman
Traders have said cattle slaughtering in the capital has plummeted down by almost 92 per cent for anthrax panic across the country, with over 500 people and a good number of cattle infected with the disease. Before anthrax cases were reported, each day 6,000 to 7,000 cows were being slaughtered in Dhaka city. Nowadays the number has dropped drastically to around 500. Nearly 8,000 goats were being slaughtered for the daily consumption of city dwellers, which has been reduced by almost half now. Secretary General of Bangladesh Meat Business Association, Rabiul Alam, provided the statistics, expressing dismay over sluggishness in their business. Since demand for beef and mutton have plummeted, meat traders chose to sell buffalo meat by displaying safety signs to assure customers that the cattle are free from anthrax, he said. No buffaloes have been reported anthrax affected, yet slaughter of buffaloes too has also been marked by a slight fall, added Rabiul. Rabiul, also secretary of Gabtoli Cattle Market Committee, said cattle sales have fallen drastically in the market. According to him, around 6000 to 7000 cows and 200 to 400 goats had been sold in the market daily, but now 100 to 150 cows and 50 to 60 goats are being sold a day. The Department of Livestock Services (DLSS) has already set up check posts on the western side of the Bangabandhu Bridge, as well as Aricha and Gabtoli, to ensure that anthrax-affected animals cannot enter the capital. Two veterinary doctors with six DLSS staff have been on duty in two shifts at Gabtoli cattle market since September 6. But no anthrax-affected animal has been detected in the market till yesterday. Dr Md Muzammel Haq, a livestock officer for Dhaka District, confirmed they are yet to find any anthrax-affected animal in Gabtoli cattle market. According to Dr Haq, anthrax affected animals are impossible to be transported to Dhaka from northern districts, because animals with the disease die within four hours. Dr Shakwat Hossain, veterinary surgeon of Dhaka City Corporation, said DCC inspectors are monitoring the situation to resist slaughter of any anthrax-affected cattle in the city. He admitted to their inability to monitor the situation with desired rigour due to lack manpower. Dr Musaddique Hossain, deputy director of Dhaka district DLSS, told UNB that cows would get anthrax in previous years, but it drew media attention because of its presence in human this year. He pointed out that the disease is not fatal for human beings and ready cure is in place. So far, 45 anthrax affected cows and 56 goats have been detected in eight districts of the country till Thursday afternoon, according to the anthrax control room of Livestock Services Department. The disease was first identified at Shahjadpur in Sirajganj on August 17. It is now spread in seven other districts -- Pabna, Tangail, Kushtia, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Thakurgaon and Kishoregonj. On September 5, the fisheries and livestock resources ministry issued a red alert to its various departments and officials to check the spread of anthrax across the country. The government have sent some two lakh vaccines to the affected area in Sirajganj and Pabna and some 5,00,000 vaccines to different parts of the country.
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