A government body says no to a commerce ministry's proposal for allowing the import of venison as well as camel meat to let the local market grow more.
The ministry recently wrote to the department of fishes and livestock (DFL), seeking opinion on the import of frozen meat of such animals.
The DFL forwarded the ministry's letter to the department of livestock services (DLS) for its view on the matter, according to officials.
If such frozen meat is imported, the DLS fears it will majorly affect the country's developing meat market.
Even harmful trans-boundary animal diseases like zoonotic flu, avian flu, anthrax and BSE may enter the country only to put public and animal health at risk.
The DLS cites meat of the dromedary as untraditional in Bangladesh as it has no acceptability here.
On the other hand, deer is a wild animal. Venison sale is currently prohibited in the country.
Venison may enter the local market illegally through smugglers only to encourage the smuggling of deer, according to the department.
A good number of local cattle farmers, however, say Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in cow, goat and sheep production.
The local rearers and raisers of cattle will face huge losses and challenges if the government gives the go-ahead to import such meat, they add.
Bangladesh has met its full demand for sacrificial animals during Eid-ul-Azha between 2015 and 2021.
It produced 8.44-million tonnes of meat against the national demand for 7.43-million tonnes in the last fiscal year.
Meat production here has increased seven times in the last decade.
An estimated 2.0-million Bangladeshis and 0.5-million families are involved with cattle farming.
A large volume of money has been invested at private and public levels with an eye to exporting local meat.
Currently, Bangladesh exports meat to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Dubai and the Maldives.
The government has kicked off a disease-free zoning project with intent to eliminate foot and peste des petits ruminants (PPR) from the local cattle.
The DSL's opinion was sought in light of a request from a private firm on the import of frozen venison and camel meat, a high official of the ministry said.
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