Despite Bangladesh recording a surplus in red meat production in the last fiscal year, local importers and traders are pressing the authorities for buffalo meat imports from India.
Over a dozen local importers, including Chasse Gallery, Agrol and Darbar Matsho Arot, have submitted applications to the commerce ministry to import between 5,000 and 10,000 tonnes of buffalo meat from the neighbouring country, according to ministry sources.
Citing beef prices ranging from Tk 600 to Tk 800 per kilogram in the local market, the traders argued that importing boneless buffalo meat from India could bring the price down to Tk 400-550 per kilogram.
They said this would offer consumers a more affordable option while also alleviating the strain on the domestic meat supply.
Besides, the traders claimed the local red meat demand would surge centring the national elections slated for January next year.
The importers have urged the government to expedite the approval process, noting that timely approval would allow them to provide consumers with cheaper meat during this period.
Earlier, the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) applied to the commerce ministry, seeking permission for red meat import.
According to the Import Policy 2021-24 notification issued by the commerce ministry in April 2022, prior approval is required from the Department of Livestock for importing meat, including frozen buffalo (bovine) meat.
The increased demand for buffalo meat stems from a combination of population growth and shifting dietary preferences.
With domestic production unable to keep pace with this rising demand, traders said they are looking to India, a well-established meat exporter with a reputation for adhering to international standards of halal food production, hygiene, safety and quality control.
While Bangladesh is currently self-sufficient in meat production, it still imports meat from various sources. The country spent nearly $2.5 million in the fiscal year 2017-18 to import red meat from 14 countries.
Some luxury hotels and food chains typically import the meat, according to sources.
Bangladesh in FY 2022-23 produced over 8.71 million tonnes of meat against an annual demand of nearly 7.6 million tonnes, according to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS).
In the national budget for the fiscal year 2021-22, a 20 per cent supplementary duty was imposed on frozen boneless bovine meat imports from India, along with an increase in the assessment value from $4.0/kg to $5.0/kg.
This move effectively nullified the SAFTA benefit available to Indian exporters.
