A mobile court has seized 37 sick horses and around five maunds of horse meat during a raid in the Haydarabad area of Gazipur city. The operation was carried out on Tuesday night, November 4, at around 11 p.m.
The drive was led by Executive Magistrate Ishtiak Ahmed from the Gazipur District Commissioner’s Office, with the assistance of officials from the Department of Livestock Services, Metropolitan Police, and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
According to sources at the District Livestock Office, the illegal sale of horse meat had been taking place secretly in the Haydarabad area for about a year. The Department of Livestock had previously declared such trade illegal. However, a local man named Shafiqul Islam had reportedly continued the operation in secret. Acting on a tip-off, officials conducted the late-night raid, breaking open a locked house and discovering 37 emaciated horses and approximately five maunds of horse meat inside.
Executive Magistrate Ishtiak Ahmed said the horses had been brought there with the intention of slaughtering them for meat sales. No individuals were arrested during the operation. The rescued horses and seized meat have been placed in the custody of a local resident and will later be handed over to the District Livestock Office.
Dr. Harun Roman, Veterinary Surgeon at the Gazipur Sadar Upazila Livestock Office and Veterinary Hospital, stated that most of the horses were in poor health and that toxins were found in the meat, making it unsafe for human consumption. He urged the public to refrain from purchasing or consuming horse meat under any circumstances.
