Despite knowing that consumption of meat of these animals may bring serious health risks for humans, traders are practicing the harmful way of rearing cattle.
During a visit to rural areas of the district this correspondent found that traders were using steroids, antibiotics and other chemicals for months for the rapid growth of the cattle as Eid is two weeks ahead.
Local sources said the unscrupulous section could do their business smoothly, as livestock department was not serious to stop such practice.
Abdur Rouf, a farmer of Bamandanga, bought a bull at Tk26,000 four months ago.
He then planned to administer steroid to ensure its abnormal growth because he has to pocket profit during Eid's cattle trading.
Like many of his neighbours, he started feeding the bull small white drug locally known as vitamins.
Soon, the bull gained weight substantially and buyers offered almost double the price he bought it with.
“It looked healthy and a trader offered Tk50,000 for it. But my husband decided to wait for a few more days, and he gave it injections to make it look more fatter,” Rouf's wife Mazeda Khatun said.
She said the cattle traders pushed dexa-methason injection to fatten up cow which is very harmful for human health.
A section of drug traders supplied the injection in the markets of Sundarganj, Sadullapur, Polashbari, Gobindaganj, Saghata, Phulchhari and Sadar upazila. At least 50,000 cows, 21,000 goats, buffaloes and goats are at the farms in those areas.
When visited the areas recently, it was found that the farm-men are busy to fatten their cows by pushing the injections.
A farm man of Bamandanga village seeking anonymity said they fed the fodder provided by ACI company.
He claimed the medicine was not harmful for human health.
A female farm owner seeking anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune that they had fed the cattle a kind of tablet with the fodder.
“We know such kind of fodder is harmful for health, but we are bound to do it due to want of fodder,” said another female farm owner.
Civil Surgeon Nirmolendu Chowdhury said the practice of fattening cow should be stopped immediately otherwise its impact would be serious specially for the pregnant women.
He said consumption of steroid fatten cow's meat might cause cancer and kidney disease. Moreover, fattened beef causes infertility in women.
Livestock Officer Abdul Latif said they would take steps immediately to stop the illegal business.