by Sumon Corraya

With India moving away from beef sales, cattle exports will drop from 2.3 million in 2014 to a projected 1 million this year. The country needs at least 5 million. The ban has already negatively impacted its leather industry. Less cattle will drive many workers into the arms of drug traffickers, expert warns.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - "I can no longer buy beef for my family, because the price has increased too much,” said Nur Islam, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi Muslim works for an NGO in Dhaka.

Speaking to AsiaNews, he explained that this is due to ban on beef in an Indian state whose repercussions can be felt on Bangladesh’s beef and leather industries.

Each year, Bangladesh needs about 5 million heads of cattle. Any reduction affects Muslims the most.

According to National Revenue Board, Bangladesh, Bangladesh imports on average 2 million heads of cattle a year.

In 2014, some 2.3 million heads of cattle were imported. This year, the Indian government will allow the export of only a million, a decision that has caused a spike in the price of beef, up to 30-40 per cent more.

In Bangladesh, this has curbed consumption, especially among the poor and middle classes, and stimulated imports from other countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

The ban is part of a series of policies adopted by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In March, the BJP-ruled State of Maharashtra banned the sale and consumption of beef, sparking angry protests by cattle farmers and traders affected by the law.

Cows are sacred animals in Hinduism. Killing or eating them is considered a sin. Hindu priests stay away from it. However, Dalits, Muslims and Christians can touch and eat the animal as well as work the hide.

In Bangladesh, the decline in imports has heavily affected those sectors of the economy that rely on cattle. Most Bangladeshis (90 per cent) are Muslim and 90 per cent of its population eat beef.

The leather industry is thriving and could suffer serious damage if the ban is not lifted. In fact, "If India stops sending cattle, our leather industry could suffer huge losses,” said Ahammad Sahin, president of the Bangladesh tanners Association.

As a result of the ban, a black market in illegally smuggled cattle has developed along the border.

Smuggling is a major concern for the Border Guard. Reports indicate that if illegal trade ended, killings along the Indian-Bangladeshi border would drop by 90 per cent.

For some experts, lower exports from India and the failure to boost domestic production will certainly lead to higher unemployment. Many of those out of work will likely turn to drug trafficking and join criminal organisations.

• bangladesh
• india
• cattle
• leather
• exports
• crisis