Following Brazil's meat export proposal, stakeholders are finalizing policies related to the import, storage, and distribution of frozen meat. If this policy is finalized, it will facilitate the import of frozen meat from Brazil, India, and other favorable countries.
On April 7, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira met with State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu in Dhaka. During the meeting, Mauro offered to sell frozen beef to Bangladesh.
After the meeting, Minister Ahsanul Islam Titu confirmed the proposal to reporters, saying: "We have asked Brazil to send live cows instead of meat, if possible, before the upcoming Eid al-Azha."
Subsequently, on May 5, the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority (BSFA) formed a committee to finalize the “Frozen Meat Import, Storage, and Distribution Policy 2023”.
Stakeholders believe that once this policy is in place, there will be no obstacles to importing frozen meat.
Currently, beef prices in Bangladesh range from Tk750 to Tk800 per kg, depending on the market.
Notably, before the elections, a meat trader in Dhaka named Khalil reduced the price of beef from Tk800 to Tk600 per kg, causing a stir across the country. However, Khalil is now selling beef at Tk780 per kg.
The government has been attempting to control beef prices, but market syndicates have made this difficult.
Many believe that allowing meat imports could help control beef prices domestically, though farmers strongly object, arguing that it would harm their livelihoods.
A committee convened by a member of the BFSA has been formed, including four other officials.
On May 10, a private company imported one ton of frozen buffalo meat from India through Hili land port.
However, the land port authorities did not release the shipment when the matter came to light, prompting the company to file a writ petition in the high court.
Subsequently, the High Court ordered the BFSA to establish a policy. A draft policy has already been formulated.
Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman, a member of the BFSA, said: "This policy will control the import, storage, and distribution of all types of frozen meat. Once approved, all meat imports, including those from Brazil, will have to adhere to this policy."
He added: "The High Court issued a writ regarding the import of meat from India and asked the Safe Food Authority to develop a policy. Following this, the committee discussed with stakeholders and prepared a draft policy, which was then sent to the Ministry of Food. The ministry returned the draft with additional queries. The committee will now address these queries with expert advice before sending the revised draft to the Law Ministry. It may take a couple of weeks to finalize the policy."