Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator and freedom fighter Md Abdus Salam said meat sold without a health officer’s inspection seal will be seized, while shops selling meat from illegally slaughtered animals will be closed. He announced the measures on Monday, August 31, after inaugurating a modern slaughterhouse in Hazaribagh, Dhaka.

Salam said meat may be sold only at designated shops and must be inspected before sale. Every piece of meat must carry the city corporation health officer’s seal so buyers can identify whether it has been inspected. Animals may not be slaughtered in markets or other locations outside designated slaughterhouses, and unauthorized slaughter will result in fines.

He said meat brought from other places cannot reliably be checked to determine whether the animal was slaughtered properly, was healthy, or had a disease. It is also not possible to verify whether buffalo meat is being sold as beef. Health officers and staff will be required to be present during slaughter at modern facilities, and absent personnel will face disciplinary action.