DHAKA: "Donald Trump" has been spared - the Eid sacrificial buffalo named after the US president - once destined for slaughter on Thursday - will now be "preserved" and "cared for" at the national zoo in Dhaka, after a last-minute intervention by the Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh govt, reportedly following a "request" from the US embassy.
Though the US Embassy has not issued any comment, a source said there was a "request" and it was respected by govt. "The decision, at the last moment, was taken to spare the buffalo from sacrifice due to security concerns and the unusual level of public interest," a ministry official said.
The 700-kg rare albino buffalo - which earned the moniker for its distinctive blond tuft, making it the subject of memes and intense public discussion on social media - is now in govt custody, according to home ministry officials. Home minister Salahuddin ahmed ordered the buffalo be spared, the owner refunded, and the animal moved to the national zoo in Dhaka.
What was initially just another Eid purchase soon captured nationwide attention after videos of the buffalo spread across social media. Visitors poured into the farm from across the country, eager to see its signature blond fringe and surprisingly calm personality.
"The name came from my younger brother, who spotted the resemblance," owner Ziauddin Mridha said.
"The buffalo is a rare breed...it went viral on social media as it was nicknamed 'Donald Trump'. It is now at a farm and may later be kept at a zoo," he said.
