Imported cattle go unexamined at Dinajpur borders as Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) lacks laboratory or veterinarians there to make sure that no anthrax infected animals enter the country.

Admitting the fact, Dinajpur Sector Commander Col Saleh Ahmad said, "BDR members are visually checking the cattle at the borders."

Over 2,000 cattle are brought to Bangladesh through the borders of Dinajpur and Joypurhat everyday both in legal and illegal ways.

The border areas includes

Chechra, Koria, Hatkhola, Uchna, Nandail, Kalitola, Uttar Gopalpur, Ratanpur and Atapara of Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat and Katia of Birampur and Dangapara of Hakimpur upazila of Dinajpur.

Major Mehdi, commanding officer of Joypurhat 3 Rifles Battalion also admitted the fact. He, however, said he knows nothing about catde smuggling under his battalion.

On Sunday, the government issued a red alert on anthrax infection. It also directed border guards to strengthen vigilance along the borders to stop cattle smuggling. But lack of testing facili-

ties now raises concern among the border guards.

Anil Kumar Paul, district livestock officer of Joypurhat, said being close to Indian territory, bordering districts of northern part of the country are much vulnerable to anthrax if cattle are brought unchecked from India.

"We have strengthened vigilance in the market. No cases of anthrax-infected cattle have been reported in the district till Tuesday," said Md Abdul Awal, district livestock officer of Dinajpur.

However, no government or livestock officials were found during a spot visit to different places in the district where cattle are slaughtered.