News Flash
By Meah Mohammad Arif
CHATTOGRAM, May 27, 2025 (BSS): The traditional cattle breed of the Chattogram region is 'Red Birish' (bull) or 'Red Chattogram Cattle'.
"It is the top choice for the people of Chattogram for sacrifice. This red colored bull is called Birish in the Chattogram language. Although small in size, the cows look beautiful and fresh, but the price is a little higher. One of the characteristics of these cows is that they are red in color. The meat tastes better. This red biris (bull) is the first choice of the people of Chattogram in every Eid," locals said.
However, this cow, which is everyone's favorite, is rarely found in the market. The only breed of Chattogram, the Red Chattogram Cattle, is getting lost in the crowd of various domestic and foreign breeds of cattle.
Due to a lack of awareness, this unique eight-faced red biris is gradually disappearing due to the hybridization of different varieties of seeds with this breed.
This time, some farmers and ranchers in Chandanaish, Satkania, Rangunia, Raozan and Fatikchhari have fattened 'Lal Birish', the District Animal Resources Department said.
The Bangladesh Animal Resources Research Institute has started working a few years ago to preserve this pure breed of Chattogram. Demonstration farms of Red Chattogram Cattle (Lal Birish) have been set up in various upazilas of Chattogram through IDF in collaboration with Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation.
These farms are working to promote pure breeding of Red Chattogram Cattle and spread the breed. Visiting various markets and farms in Fatikchhari, Raozan, Rangunia, Satkania, Lohagara and Chandanaish in the district, it can be seen that although the number is small, this breed of cattle is coming to the sacrificial animal market.
Since this breed is at the top of the list, those who fatten this breed of cattle are also getting good prices. At various markets in Chattogram such as Sagarika, Karnaphuli, Bibirhat, Anwara Sarkarhat, Godown Bazar in Rangunia, Nazirhat in Fatikchhari, Mirsarai and Patiya Thana Haat, the interest of buyers in 'Lal Birish' during Qurbani is at an extraordinary level.
Abdul Mannan, a farmer of Satkania Municipality, said, "I have fattened a total of 22 cows for the Qurbani. Out of these, five are Red Chattogram Cattle (Lal Birish). These cows are red and beautiful in appearance, so they catch everyone's attention in the market.
Nur Hossain, a farmer from Kadalpur, Raojan upazila, said that the demand for red biris is the highest in Chattogram. If the taste of the meat for the sacrifice is complete, it is mainly through this red cow. The demand for this special type of local cattle increases every Eid of Qurbani, but in 2025, a kind of competition has emerged that has overtaken the demand.
Satkania Upazila Animal Resources Officer, Dr Md Mizanur Rahman said that Red Chattogram Cattle is the original and only breed of Chattogram. The color of the cattle of this breed, eyes, eyebrows, nose, horns, mane, tail and reproductive organs are red. The horns of the cattle are relatively small and thin. This breed of cattle is at the top of everyone's list of preferences because it looks very beautiful and strong. There are more than a thousand Red Chattogram Cattle (Red Biris) with farms and farmers in different unions of the upazila.
He said that Bangladesh Animal Resources Research Institute has taken several steps under the Red Chattogram Cattle Development and Conservation Project. It has set up some demonstration farms in different places including Satkania.
In collaboration with the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, IDF is working to spread the Red Chattogram Cattle beyond its place of origin, Chattogram and beyond through these demonstration farms.
However, the rising cost of cattle feed, medicines, and vaccines, and the lack of advanced research, have become challenges for farmers, he added.
