The killing, torture, abduction and kidnapping of Bangladesh civilians at the border by Indian Border Forces (BSF) disturb gravely the minds of the people in Bangladesh.

Although the number has been reduced in recent times, the continuation of such tragic incidents as reported in the media on regular basis has led overwhelming section of people in Bangladesh to believe that India does not care the loss of lives of Bangladeshis. Furthermore loss of one life is contrary to the Indo-Bangladesh joint communiqué of January 2010 (paragraph 18) signed by the two Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India.

Many researchers from Bangladesh and India have found that there is a simple way to end the killings at the border because such killings are mostly related to illegal cattle trade from India to Bangladesh.

During Track II dialogue (unofficial dialogue) between India and Bangladesh, Bangladesh side had repeatedly suggested to the Indian side to legalise the export of cows from West Bengal, a state in which cows are allowed to be slaughtered, to end the border killings.

In recent times, the former head of the BSF, U.K. Bansal reportedly said:” The menace of smuggling might be controlled if the trade across the border is made legal. The legalization of export of cows could also help curb tension on the volatile border”.
It is reported that Bangladesh government supports the export of cattle from India to Bangladesh.

The fact which breeds and flourishes the illegal trade of cattle is the high consumption of beef in Bangladesh, the supply for which is not met by the local market. It is reported that about three million cattle (cows) per year are needed in Bangladesh but the local market reportedly can supply only about one million cattle, leaving a gap of two million cattle.

The shortfall of two million cattle per year is met by illegal trade through reportedly 17 cattle routes of West-Bengal and Bangladesh border.

Elaborating on the modus operandi of the network involved in the trade, one BSF official reportedly informed that a group of people from the Bangladesh side first sends out a boy close to the border. .When the boy waves his hand giving green signal, within seconds, a group of people from each side rush towards the fence. From the Indian side the group comes with about a dozen heads of cattle. . One by one, the animals are hung to the improvised bamboo crane and sent across to the Bangladesh side within a few minutes

The cattle smuggled are brought from far flung Indian states like Haryana, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. By the time, it reaches the bordering area, the cost of the cattle touches Rs 5,000. It increases to Rs 15,000 when it crosses the Indian border. Finally it fetches Rs. 40,000 in Bangladeshi markets.

It is reported by cattle smugglers that police, customs and border security guards and even local politicians are routinely involved because the big bucks they earn in the illegal trade, which some researchers found worth of nearly about $1 billion every year. Bangladesh nationals are killed when they reportedly fail to “grease the palms” of the border officials including security guards.

The vast illegal trade thrives since cows are considered holy in the Hindu-majority country- India and New Delhi is unable to legalise in exporting them.

When asked for opposition party’s reaction on the issue, a Bhartiya Janata Party spokesperson said, “It is a serious issue because scores of cattle are being smuggled every year. It is a tremendous loss of bovine resource and revenue. And it should not be legalised, as it goes against the ethos of the country.”

Radhakanta Saha, a leader of World Hindu Organisation and heads a volunteer group that aims to prevent cow smuggling reportedly said that : “The cow is our mother. We shall begin a country-wide agitation if India decides to export cows to a country where they are likely to be slaughtered for meat.”

Given the above facts, cow-export is a highly emotive and sensitive matter for New Delhi. While India will never be able to allow in exporting cows to Bangladesh, the sheer of profit will drive illegal cattle trade.

The fact that a country which reveres the cow is among the world’s largest illegal exporters of cows might seem contradictory. But it is happening under the alleged nose of Indian border officials.

Barrister Harun ur Rashid, Former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva

(Dhaka Courier)