Alarming rise of cattle theft ahead of Eid

Sharif Mia has been rearing his three cows worth Tk 1.50 lakh for the last two years to sell at the haat ahead of this Eid-ul-Azha, a festival marked by sacrifice of animals. He wanted to celebrate this Eid and pay back some loans by selling the cattle. But the cows were stolen in Rampasha village of Kulaura upazila in Moulvibazar last week.

"I am now in utter despair for my future after losing the cattle. How will I pay off the debts now and how will I buy new clothes for my children in the Eid?" said Sharif.

Dilip Roy, a tea worker at Champarai tea garden in Kamalganj upazila of the district, said he has been rearing two cows for long.

"The cattle were our only assets. I had a plan to spend my children's education cost and repay some loans by selling a cow before Eid. But a few days ago, the cows were stolen. And all my dreams have been shattered." he said.

Cattle lifting has increased in different upazilas of the district ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, forcing farmers to guard their cows during the night. Two weeks ago, alarming rise of cow theft in Kulaura and Kamalganj upazilas caused a stir across the country.

Farmers said around 400 cows have been stolen in different upazilas of the district in the last one month. The upazilas are Kulaura, Kamalganj and Sreemangal.

After the incident, farmers are worried about the rise of cattle lifting. The cattle farmers are now guarding their cows in many areas at night to prevent theft.

Abdul Ahad, a resident of Dildarpur area, said 70 cattle out of 114 have been stolen in Joychondi union of Kulaura upazila. Police are reluctant to lodge a complaint in cattle lifting when the victims visit the police station.

Solaiman Ahmed, former chairman of Islampur Union Parishad in Kamalganj upazila, said a total of 196 cattle have been stolen in the border areas including Champarai and Kurma tea gardens of ​​the upazila in the last three months. After being stolen, the cows were sometimes sold out and slaughtered.

He further said that it is too tough for the tea workers to run the family with their minimum daily wage of Tk 102. Due to this, they rear the cattle to survive.

Despite repeated pleas, the authorities concerned are yet to take any steps to prevent cow theft, said Solaiman.

Arifur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kamalganj Police Station, said they have arrested four people with two stolen cows from the border area a few days ago.

The law enforcers also seized a pick-up van used for stealing cows from their possession, said the OC.

They have increased their patrols in different areas of the upazila to prevent the cattle theft, said the police official.

Moulvibazar Superintendent of Police (SP) Faruq Ahmed said the cattle theft incident has occurred at different places in the district ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

They are raiding different areas to arrest the cattle lifters, said the SP.