At least 26 oxen reared for sacrifice in the Eid have been lifted from different unions of Kushtia in the last two months.

Many farmers in groups are guarding their cowsheds to fend off the theft. 

Of them, five cows were taken away from a village at Chapra union in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia.

The people of three villages of the union are now spending sleepless nights to thwart the theft bid.

Many cattle farmers were fattening sacrificial animals after buying them for the loans taken from NGOs.

Mohsin Biswas, officer-in-charge of Kumarkhali Police Station, told the Daily Sun that they with the help of the villagers arranged the guarding to avert cattle thefts.

He said that about 25 days ago, they arrested several members of a cattle-lifting gang.

“If they do not obtain bail before the Eid, there is no possibility of such crimes,” he said. 

About 18 cows were stolen from different houses in Raipura upazila of Laxmipur in May.

Of the cattle, two worth about Tk 3 lakh were stolen from one Farid’s house at Majhibari in Bamni union on May 16.

Next day, two oxen of Ayub Ali of Char Ababil union were stolen while a bull of Abdul Hai of Charbangshi village, a cow of Latif Mia of Charkachhia village and two cows of Anwar Hossain of South Jhautugi village were stolen.

Tofazzal Munshi, chairman of Bamni Union Parishad, said farmers were guarding their cows, spending sleepless nights.

He said that law enforcers should keep a keen eye to check the crime.

Kamal Malakar, sub-inspector of Raipura Police Station, confirmed the news of thefts.

They said they enhanced nighttime patrols and were trying to arrest the thieves.

On May 30, two cows worth about Tk 2.50 lakh were stolen from the houses of Jalilur Rahman and Sifatul Islam at Duaru village at Khairchhara union in Mirsharai of Chattogram.

Sifat said he saw his cow at his cowshed until 3:00am. “But when I entered it at about 6:00am, I did not find it,” he said.

Nur Uddin, member of ward 7 under Khairchhara Union Parishad, said the cattle theft was on the rise ahead of the Eid.

Kabir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Mirsharai Police Station, said that they enhanced nighttime patrolling.

Three oxen were stolen from the house of Jakir Hossain at Amjupi village at Sadar upazila of Meherpur district on May 28.

On May 27, two cows were taken away from Rashidul Islam’s house at the same village.

Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station Saiful Islam said they were working to thwart the cow theft.

On May 18, four cows fattened for the Eid were stolen from Nasir Uddin’s house at Jhawgarah village at Araihazar in Narayanganj.

Besides the cow theft incidents, the sacrificial animals were stolen from Subarnachar in Noakhali,   Balipara union in Trishal of Mymensingh and some other districts in May and June.