Buyers are panic-stricken about buying healthy cows for Eid-ul-Adha, many of whom are expressing confusion on whether cows are on steroids.
After massive promotion on the negative impact of eating artifically fattened cows, mass awareness has been raised. As a result, people are demanding to know about cows before buying.
Many abnormally healthy cows have been seen around the capital. Though sellers are not admitting to their cows being on steroids, they say there are cows on steroids in the haats.
Dangerous hormones are given to cows in the form of steroids – Hydroctrition, Decrmithusan, Cortisol, Bitamithasone, and Prudenicon – in the hopes of profit. The animals are given medicines that are five to ten times more powerful than their limits. Dhaka South City Corporation Veterinarian Dr Azmat Ali said: "Water stored in the body of the animals swell up. Eating meat of such animals can cause sickness."
Md Sharif, leaseholder of Meradiya Haat, told the Dhaka Tribune: "Because of the flood, sellers brought their cows to Dhaka a week beforehand. Now if someone does something at the haat, he will be caught. Though this was a common incident few years ago, people are conscious today. Buyers can identify such cows. Despite the fact, there could still be a few cases."
Veterinarians say that if a cow on steroids is not slaughtered within a certain period of time, it will die. This is because dangerous chemical hormones are inserted in every part of its body. Even if the meat is cooked, the chemicals still remain dangerous. Meat with steroids in it can cause damage to kidney, liver, cancer and the eyes. Immunity to diseases massively decreases as well.
Monday, June 29, 2026
