Govt to set up meat processing centres: Tuku

The government has a plan to set up modern meat processing centers in every district.

The centres will be set up aimed at expanding safe and quality meat processing facilities, preservation and pave the ways of meat export in future.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said this in an interview with BSS at his office in the secretariat here.

Now the country produces over 8.7 million tons of meat annually with massive livestock surpluses.

Simultaneously, the government is implementing different development programmes to make the livestock sector modern, self-sufficient and export-oriented industry.

Tuku said installation of modern meat processing center is very much important to make the livestock sector export-oriented.

Already 13 meat processing centers have been inaugurated including one in Bogura. The other meat processing centers will be established in every district across the country in phases.

"If the meat processing centers are established then international standard meat processing, preservation and export would be possible", he said.

Experts said domestic demand for meat is growing rapidly while formal meat processing and export remain in the early stages.

Meat export from Bangladesh is below $1million annually and international compliance issue is the main constrain in addition to cold-chain gaps, and scaling modern abattoirs.

During the previous regime, he said the fisheries and livestock sector has suffered severe damage in the past due to irregularities, corruption and mismanagement.

After assuming office, the present government led by BNP is working with sincerity and dedication for restructuring the sector, he said. 

Tuku said the ministry officers and employees have worked relentlessly in the past 180 days and a sustainable plan has been taken for the future.

To check irregularities, he said probe committee has been formed immediately after receiving any irregularities and corruption which have already started work. After receiving the probe report, stern action will be taken against the responsible persons. 

He expressed his firm determination that no one get any scope to do any irregularities or corruption in the public works.

To ensure safe food, Sultan Salauddin Tuku said importance has been given to ensure quality food from the growing stage.  The government has taken initiative to reach safe animal food to the consumers through modernizing the production system, ensuring safe animal feed and ensuring quality soil test.

Under the initiative, even the government is regularly exchanging views with the growers. Necessary instructions are being given after holding meeting with the growers, entrepreneurs and other concerned persons in different stages to make safe and disease-free animal food available.

Regarding the Goyal (Gayal) breeding and research farm in Naikhongchhari, Bandarban, the state minster said the gayal (Bos frontalis), also known as mithun or Drung ox, a large semi-domesticated cattle in the Himalayan foothills of Indian subcontinent and primarily in Northeast India, was originally established under the initiative of former President Shaheed Ziaur Rahman and now it is on the verge of extinction.

The government has taken steps to revive it farming of the native hill-dwelling Gayal (Bos frontalis) species.

Talking about the government's special programme to supply protein for the common people during the Ramadan, Tuku said the government has sold different animal food including meat, milk and eggs at fair price through mobile selling centers in different districts and 36 spots in the capital.

The initiative has drawn huge response and the common people could collect their required food at affordable price. 

Highlighting the government initiative marking the Eid-ul Azha last, he said influx of sacrificial animals through the border was strictly controlled aiming to protect the local livestock sector and also keeping the interest of the local farmers. Nearly 9.8 million local sacrificial animals were sold during the festival.

Mentioning the significant progress in the livestock research, Tuku said Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) recently has developed two indigenous vaccines for avian influenza (bird flu) and goat pox.

In August 2026, these locally innovated vaccines were formally handed over to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) for commercial manufacturing and nationwide distribution to farmers.

In previous time, these vaccines were imported from abroad and now these vaccines are being produced in the country, saving huge foreign currencies and ensuring quick supply of the vaccines.

About modernization of the Bangladesh National Zoo, Tuku said the government is working to develop the Zoo as one of international standard. Significant progress has been made in the Zoo's environment, management and animal collection.

Number of visitors also has been increased manifold compare to the past, he said adding particularly, during the Eid vacation, and nearly one lakh to 1.90 lakh visitors have visited the Zoo daily.

On 23 June, this year, the Bangladesh National Zoo has added four exotic animals imported from South Africa, common elands and two male wildebeests, as part of efforts to enhance biodiversity and attract more visitors.

Apart from this, he said a Royal Bengal tiger couple Beli and Togor gave birth to four cubs on 4 January, three of them are white tigers, featuring striking blue eyes, white coats, and chocolate-coloured stripes.

Even the government is planning to establish new zoo in Rajshahi, Chattogram, Bogura and Barishal and site selection and primary feasibility study have already have been completed. The government is also working to set up new safari park in the country.

Tuku said, a high-yielding grass, a kind of high-protein forage, has already been imported from Australia as the production of this grass will help to reduce excessive cost of the animal feed and increase the production of milk and meat.

Training has been imparted to nearly 850 farmers on the cultivation of the grass. The feeding of this particular type of grass will develop the health of the livestock and reduce dependency on import of animal feed.

Ultimately the large scale cultivation of the grass also will reduce the price of the beef, the state minister hoped.

To raise the hilsa production, he said the government has reinforced the Jatka conservation programme. During the fishing ban period, more than Tk24 crore from the government exchequer have been spent for providing support to the financially distressed fishermen.

The government is implementing long term plans to make the fisheries and livestock sector modern, technology-based and sustainable, the state minister said.

To ensure safe food, increase the income of the farmers, raising the production of meat and milk, enhance export and supply animal food to the consumers at fair price are the main motto of the government, he noted.