The government will not allow cattle imports ahead of Eid-ul-Azha as there is a higher supply of animals than demand in the country, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said yesterday.

No cattle will be allowed entry, she said at a press conference on the demand and supply of animals for Eid-ul-Azha, which is scheduled to be celebrated in the second week of next month.

She said Bangladesh has 1.24 crore animals, including 56 lakh fattened bulls and buffaloes for sacrifice this year, according to a press statement.

"We expect there will be a surplus of 20.68 lakh cattle this year," Farida said.

Last year, 1.04 crore cattle were slaughtered, which was higher than the previous year's 1.01 crore, according to an estimate of the Department of Livestock Services.

To facilitate transport, a special train will operate from the northern region of Bangladesh.

In Dhaka, there will be 19 markets for cattle ahead of the religious festival.

Some 20 veterinary teams will be engaged in the markets, the adviser said.