A mobile court in Manikganj Sadar Upazila has sentenced nine individuals to varying terms of rigorous imprisonment after raiding an abandoned factory where horses were being slaughtered and packaged for distribution. The operation exposed a clandestine network processing equine meat intended for commercial markets.
Acting on a tip-off that rapidly circulated across social media platforms, local authorities launched a targeted raid on Wednesday, 23 September 2026. The enforcement operation focused on a derelict facility formerly operated by Hasan and Brothers, situated within the Jajir Jute Research area of Manikganj Sadar. The inspection team, spearheaded by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Rikta Khatun, was accompanied by Sadar Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Md Monir Hossain and members of the local police force.
Upon arriving at the abandoned compound, officials verified the circulating allegations immediately. Inside the facility, authorities discovered thirteen slaughtered horses alongside one live animal tethered on the premises. Investigators noted that the animals had been strung up by ropes and subjected to brutal treatment before being killed, revealing a shocking level of cruelty alongside clear violations of animal welfare and public health regulations.
Preliminary interrogations revealed that the horses had been procured from various regions across the country, including Dhaka, Gazipur, and Jamalpur. The suspects planned to process, package, and distribute the meat to commercial buyers across different areas. Under the Animal Slaughter and Meat Quality Control Act of 2011, the actions violated statutory provisions outlined in Section 4, leading to immediate penalisation under Section 24 of the same legislation.
The mobile court handed down swift sentences to all nine apprehended suspects. Md Mizanur Rahman, identified as the primary coordinator who assembled the operation and managed the logistics, received a one-year simple imprisonment sentence. The remaining eight accomplices were each sentenced to six months of simple imprisonment.
Convicted Individuals
| Sl. No. | Name | Age |
| 1 | Md Mizanur Rahman | 30 |
| 2 | Rubel | 39 |
| 3 | Sohel Rana | 30 |
| 4 | Emon Hasan | 28 |
| 5 | Md Tuhin | 19 |
| 6 | Ibrahim Khalil | 21 |
| 7 | Masud Rana | 24 |
| 8 | Humayun Kabir | 35 |
| 9 | Maruf | 26 |
Executive Magistrate Rikta Khatun emphasised the gravity of the offences, noting that processing horse meat for human consumption is strictly prohibited under national guidelines and poses severe public safety hazards. Livestock Officer Dr Md Monir Hossain confirmed that inquiries are ongoing to identify any broader criminal networks involved in the supply chain and to determine the intended destinations for the packaged meat.
