Authorities seized a large amount of horse meat and rescued 37 ailing horses during a late-night raid in Gazipur City Corporation’s Hyderabad area, where the sale of horse meat remains banned in Bangladesh.
The operation, conducted on Tuesday night, was led by Executive Magistrate Ishtiaque Ahmed of the Gazipur district administration in coordination with the Department of Livestock Services, RAB-1, and local police.
Officials said members of the illegal slaughter ring fled through hidden exits after detecting law enforcement’s arrival.
Executive Magistrate Ishtiaque Ahmed said the horses had been brought to the site for slaughter. “As no one could be detained during the operation, the 37 rescued horses and five maunds of seized horse meat have been placed under the custody of a local resident,” he said.
He added that most of the rescued horses were severely ill and that consuming their meat could pose serious health risks.
Authorities said the sale of horse meat in the area first surfaced earlier this year, causing widespread alarm. Although previous crackdowns briefly halted the practice, traders resumed operations secretly, prompting renewed enforcement action.
