Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid said more than 12.4 million sacrificial animals are available for qurbani in the coming Eid-ul-Adha.

No sacrificial animal will be imported on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha this year, he said at a press conference in the ministry on Sunday.

“Like last year, no import will be allowed from outside the country this year, and that’s why leasing of border hats remained suspended,” he said.

State minister for fisheries and livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku and secretary of the ministry Delwar Hossen were present.

More than 3,600 cattle markets, including 27 in Dhaka city, will be set up across the country, the minister said.

Out of the total 27 cattle markets in the capital, 16 will be set up under the supervision of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and 11 under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

In Dhaka city, the cattle hat will be set up only at designated places, said the minister, adding that no hats will be allowed on the roadside that cause disruption of the traffic movement.

Aminur Rashid said the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) import of cow fattening injection or any steroid is completely disallowed.

But a section of unscrupulous cattle traders might collect those medicines for fattening the sacrificial animals. DLS will destroy those illegal drugs through conducting a drive across the country, the minister said.

“Buyers won’t have to pay tax or levy (hassil) for online animal purchasing,” said the minister, adding that the hassil will only be applicable in case of purchasing the animal directly from the cattle market.

An expert veterinary team under the supervision of the DLS will be engaged at every animal hospital across the country to provide emergency medical services to the ailing animals.

“The country now has sufficient stock of sacrificial animals, and the price of the animals will remain within the purchase capacity of the people,” the minister hoped.

The minister said the government has taken strict measures to control extortion from the animal markets, saying no extortion will be allowed from the transports carrying sacrificial animals through the roads and waterways. Necessary instructions have already been given to the law-enforcing agencies in this regard, he said.