e_Paper, Friday, August 25, 2017

6
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2017
DT
News
Bangladesh importing sacrificial
cattle from Myanmar
• Abdul Aziz, Cox’s Bazar
NATION
The number of cattle being brought
into Bangladesh from Myanmar
ahead of Eid-ul-Azha has more
than doubled in the past two
months compared to the same period
in 2016.
Bangladesh imports most of its
cows, goats and lambs from India
in the run up to the annual religious
festival, when the demand – and
prices – for sacrificial animals soars.
However, the customs officer
for Teknaf land port said the number
of cattle being imported from
Myanmar in July and August was
“more than double” that of the
same period in 2016, when 3,435
cattle were brought in for a revenue
of Tk1,963,500.
“There are possibilities for importing
more sacrificial animals
from Myanmar in future,” ASM
Mosharraf Hossain said.
One trader, Amir Mandal,
bought 120 cows and oxen from the
Shahporir Dwip corridor in Teknaf
for sale in Rajshahi.
“Myanmar cows are more popular
than the Indian ones,” he told
the Dhaka Tribune. “They look better
and have more meat.”
Trawlers filled with cattle from Myanmar are making regular arrivals at Shahporir Dwip in Teknaf via the Naf River
Trawlers filled with cattle are
arriving at Shahporir Dwip via the
Naf River. While traders say the
DHAKA TRIBUNE
prices of Myanmar cows are lower
compared to 2016, one jetty lessee
said the import costs were rising.
“The district administration
is charging Tk50 per cow while
Teknaf customs is earning Tk500
revenue from each animal,” said
Rejaul Karim Reju, who is also the
local Union Parishad member.
During the July-August period,
local authorities say at least 8,500
cattle have been imported through
the corridor that helped the government
earn Tk4,255,600 in revenue.
Local cattle importer Ham Jalal
said he had bought at least 500
cows in the last two days. “I take
them to Chittagong from here. It
costs about Tk1,800 per animal on
average,” he said.
However, cattle trader Siraj Mia
from Chittagong’s Patia said they
were harassed by police when
transporting the cows.
Teknaf 2 Border Guard Bangladesh
Commander Lt Col SM Ariful
Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that
they were on alert to avert any untoward
incident. •
Russia readies for huge
military exercises as
tensions with west simmer
• Tribune Desk
WORLD
Russia is preparing to mount
what could be one of its biggest
military exercises since
the cold war, a display of power
that will be watched warily
by Nato against a backdrop of
east-west tensions.
Western officials and analysts
estimate up to 100,000
military personnel and logistical
support could participate
in the Zapad (West) 17
exercise, which will take place
next month in Belarus, Kaliningrad
and Russia itself. Moscow
puts the number significantly
lower.
The exercise, to be held
from 14-20 September, comes
against a backdrop of strained
relations between Russia and
the US Congress recently imposed
a fresh round of sanctions
on Moscow in response
to allegations of interference
in the 2016 US election.
The first of the Russian
troops are scheduled to arrive
in Belarus in mid-August.
Moscow has portrayed Zapad
17 as a regular exercise,
held every four years, planned
long ago and not a reaction to
the latest round of sanctions.
Nato said it had no plans to
respond to the manoeuvres by
deploying more troops along
the Russian border.
Moscow blames growing
west-east tensions on the expansion
of Nato eastwards and
in recent years the deployment
of more Nato forces in countries
bordering Russia. Nato says the
increased deployments are in
response to the Russian annexation
of Crimea in 2013.
During the cold war, Zapad
was the biggest training
exercise of the Soviet Union
and involved an estimated
100,000 to 150,000 personnel.
After the collapse of the Soviet
Union, it was resurrected in
1999 and has been held every
four years since.
Meanwhile, Russian nuclear-capable
strategic bombers
have flown over the Pacific
Ocean, the Sea of Japan, the
Yellow Sea and the East China
Sea, prompting Japan and
South Korea to scramble jets
to escort them. •