Rare Albino Buffalo ‘Donald Trump’ Spared from Eid Sacrifice Following Government Intervention

A rare albino buffalo popularly known as “Donald Trump,” which had been sold for sacrifice during Eid-ul-Azha, will no longer be slaughtered following special intervention from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs.

The buffalo was seen being taken to Keraniganj Police Station from Islamapur in Zinjira, Keraniganj, at around 5:30 pm on Wednesday.

Earlier in the afternoon, a senior police official from Keraniganj district visited the residence of the buffalo’s owner, Moniruzzaman. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said, “Instructions have come from higher authorities that the buffalo cannot be sacrificed. For now, it has been asked to be taken to the police station.”

Afterward, the animal was transported to the station.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, owner Moniruzzaman said, “I bought the buffalo 10 days after Eid-ul-Fitr and brought it home from the farm three days ago. This afternoon, people from the police station came and said the government would take it. We do not want any disorder. The government wanted it, so we handed it over.”

When asked what compensation he would receive, Moniruzzaman said, “The government said they would either pay the amount we spent on it or provide another cow for sacrifice.”

Officer-in-Charge of Keraniganj Model Police Station, Ruhul Kuddus, confirmed that the buffalo had been brought back from the owner’s house. “Since it is a rare species, it will be handed over to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock,” he said.

At around 6:30 pm, Moniruzzaman’s son, Mahir, told reporters over the phone that they were still at the police station with the buffalo. “The police asked us to bring it here, and we did. What the government plans to do with it is entirely their matter,” he said.

The buffalo had been attracting huge crowds since it was brought to the family residence. During a visit to the house around 3:30 pm, the animal was seen tied inside a room as the family struggled to manage the overwhelming number of visitors.

Even after the buffalo was removed, curious visitors continued arriving, only to learn it had already been taken away. One such visitor, Rima Akter, said she had seen videos of the buffalo on her mobile phone and came hoping to see it in person.

The buffalo gained the nickname “Donald Trump” because of its unusual albino appearance, with white hair and eyes resembling the hairstyle and complexion associated with former US President Donald Trump. The name was reportedly given by a relative of Ziauddin Mridha, owner of Rabeya Agro Farm in Narayanganj’s Paikpara area.

After reports about the buffalo appeared in local media, it quickly went viral and gained international attention. Major international news agencies, including Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Reuters, also featured the now-famous buffalo in their coverage.