High Court petition filed seeking ban on horse meat trade, Jaya Ahsan among petitioners

PNN News Desk: Dhaka

A public interest petition has been filed in the High Court seeking a ban on horse meat trade in the country and necessary directives to stop related activities. Actress and animal welfare activist Jaya Ahsan is among the three individuals and organizations who filed the petition.

On Monday (May 11), the petition was submitted at the relevant branch of the High Court by Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation, AK Khan Healthcare Trust, and Jaya Ahsan.

The petition states that judicial intervention is required regarding allegations of fraudulently marketing sick animals as human food. It also seeks a full and time-bound investigation into alleged illegal horse meat trade in Gazipur.

The petitioners approached the court due to alleged inaction based on previous complaints. They also requested instructions for submission of an investigation report within a specific timeframe.

The application further calls for the formulation of national guidelines and an action plan within 60 days, a ban on auctioning seized sick horses, and the establishment of rehabilitation centers and sanctuaries for rescued animals.

It is alleged in the petition that an industrial facility in Gazipur was converted into an illegal slaughterhouse for organized horse meat trading, where sick horses and carcasses were recovered during raids.

It is also claimed that tests conducted by the Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University detected various infections and bacteria in the meat.

The petitioners argue that weak enforcement of animal welfare laws is allowing such unethical and public health–threatening activities to continue, and therefore urgent judicial intervention is required.

The petition also questions the inaction of relevant ministries and authorities and seeks court directives for effective measures.