Writ filed with HC seeking nationwide ban on horse meat trade

Actress and animal welfare activist Jaya Ahsan, along with two organisations, has filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking directives to ban the horse meat trade in the country.

The writ was filed today (11 May) with the relevant branch of the High Court by Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation, AK Khan Healthcare Trust and Jaya Ahsan in the public interest.

Lawyers Saqeb Mahbub, Cynthia Farid and Sajid Hassan are representing the petitioners.

In the petition, the applicants sought High Court intervention over the alleged fraudulent marketing of meat from sick animals for human consumption.

They said they approached the court after previous complaints to the authorities failed to result in effective legal action.

The petition sought directives for the disposal of earlier complaints submitted to ministries concerned, initiation of proper legal proceedings and a thorough, time-bound investigation into the illegal horse meat trade uncovered in Gazipur. The petitioners also requested that the investigation report be submitted to the High Court.

They further sought directives for the authorities to formulate a national guideline and action plan within 60 days to eliminate such practices, immediately stop the auction of seized and sick horses and establish proper facilities or sanctuaries for the care and rehabilitation of rescued animals under Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation.

The petitioners argued that without immediate judicial intervention, the illegal trade would continue to pose a threat to public health and lead to extreme cruelty to animals.

According to the lawyers, a joint drive conducted in early November 2025 by the Gazipur district administration, Department of Livestock Services, Rapid Action Battalion-1 and police uncovered an organised illegal horse meat trade operating from a cotton factory converted into a slaughterhouse.

During the drive, authorities rescued around 36 severely sick horses, recovered the carcasses of eight slaughtered horses and seized a large quantity of meat prepared for distribution and sale.

The rescued animals were reportedly found in highly unhygienic conditions and suffering from severe malnutrition, untreated infections, open wounds, maggot infestations, tumours and other serious injuries.

Veterinary examinations conducted by Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University detected antibiotic-resistant bacteria, parasitic infections, fungal contamination and suspected tuberculosis infections, the petition said.

It alleged that the contaminated meat was being fraudulently sold for human consumption and, in some cases, falsely marketed as beef.

Although authorities announced monitoring measures and ordered the activities stopped immediately, the petitioners said enforcement lacked continuity.

A mobile court later declared the sale of horse meat prohibited in Gazipur, saying such practices are not customary in Bangladesh and had raised serious concerns.

According to the petition, Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation repeatedly contacted Gazipur police, the district administration and other authorities and provided detailed documents related to the illegal trade. However, no effective measures were taken to identify or arrest those involved.

After the Gazipur deputy commissioner's office contacted the Department of Livestock Services, the rescued horses were handed over to Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation for care and rehabilitation.

However, due to limited capacity, the organisation could not take in additional animals, while authorities in Gazipur were reportedly auctioning off seized sick horses.

The petitioners said Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation had repeatedly written to relevant ministries and authorities seeking urgent intervention and effective action over the illegal horse meat trade.

On 29 December 2025, Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation, AK Khan Healthcare Trust and Jaya Ahsan sent letters to the relevant ministries seeking effective measures, but did not receive any meaningful response, prompting the filing of the writ petition.