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The government is working on a proposal to ban frozen meat import for promoting local production and saving foreign currency, sources said.
"A meeting is scheduled to be held on January 15 to take a decision is this regard," said an official at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL).
"We spend huge amount of foreign currency to import such types of food items which are available locally," he told the FE.
Representatives from different ministries, departments and stakeholders concerned would attend the meeting.
Bangladesh is self-sufficient in meat production, sources said, but spent nearly US$ 2.5 million in the fiscal year 2017-18 to import the item from 14 countries. Some luxury hotels and food chains import the meat, they added.
In September last, the MoFL proposed the ministry of commerce to amend the import policy with provisions that would discourage import of processed meat.
The proposal was submitted to ensure the interest of the local livestock sector as the farmers are now rearing more cattle due to growing demand.
The country produced 7.51 million tonnes of meat in FY 2018-19 against an annual demand of nearly 7.3 million tonnes, according to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS).
The government took the move to restrict the import of meat as the cattle-rearing groups have raised their voice against the meat import.
When contacted, an official said: "We do not encourage meat import for greater interest of the local cattle farming sector."
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has proposed an exchange policy between meat import from Brazil and clothing export to that country.
Led by commerce minister Tipu Munshi, a Bangladesh delegation visited MERCOSUR states - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay - on August 18-23 last. Dr. Rubana Huq, president of the BGMEA, was a member of the delegation.
The BGMEA submitted a concept paper during the visit, proposing that Bangladesh could import processed meat in exchange for export of apparel items to the MERCOSUR member countries.
In response to the proposal, the government of Bangladesh considered allowing meat import from Brazil.
It sparked resentment among the cattle farmers and stakeholders in the sector. They expressed deep concern over the move to import meat and said that growth of the sector would be affected badly if the government allows import.
If the proposal is implemented, it would be suicidal for the local meat industry, they added.
According to the BGMEA concept paper, meat import has increased by about four times in five years - from US$ 0.72 million in fiscal year (FY) 2013-14 to nearly US$ 2.5 million in the FY 2017-18.
Bangladesh imported the meat from 14 countries, including India being the largest source. Other countries of origin included Ethiopia, France, Korea, Thailand, China, United Arab Emirates (UAE), USA, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.