Animal Recovery Mission (ARM), a leading investigative organization dedicated to ending animal cruelty, has uncovered devastating evidence of ritual animal slaughter during the 2025 Eid al-Adha “Feast of Sacrifice” in Dhaka, Bangladesh. ARM field operatives, during an undercover operation, documented extreme cases of animal suffering, including beatings, dehydration, public slaughter, and prolonged agonizing deaths.
Over 12.5 million animals were transported in severely distressed conditions by boat, train, truck, and on foot to be sacrificed in Dhaka. It has been reported that 9.1 million animals, including cows, goats, sheep, buffalo, and camels, were sacrificed during the festival, with the killings carried out in public alleys, streets, marketplaces, and homes. The animals were bound and brutalized, their throats slit while fully conscious, and left to thrash and scream as they bled to death.
“This is one of the most horrific spectacles of mass animal cruelty we’ve witnessed. The normalization of this brutality under the pretense of religion or tradition cannot be accepted in a compassionate, modern world,” said Richard “Kudo” Couto, President and Founder of ARM.
ARM is no stranger to this fight; the organization has a long and consistent history of exposing ritual animal sacrifice across South Asia. Since 2018, ARM has been investigating the Eid festival in Bangladesh.
Additionally, over the past decade, ARM has conducted annual investigative missions in Nepal, documenting extreme cruelty at cultural and religious festivals such as Gadhimai, Dashain, Makar Sankranti, and Deopokhari.
These campaigns have achieved viral international exposure, increased diplomatic pressure, and fostered growing coalitions of advocates seeking to reform traditional practices.
ARM’s 2025 investigation is being used to power a new petition targeting the Government of Bangladesh and its Minister of Religious Affairs, calling for immediate reform and the abolition of animal sacrifice ceremonies. The petition demands:
• An end to sanctioned animal sacrifice
• Promotion of humane, non-animal-based offerings
• Implementation of strict animal protection enforcement during religious festivals.
“We respect religious freedom, but not at the cost of unbearable pain and suffering for living beings,” the petition states.
ARM is also launching an international awareness campaign to educate the public and religious communities on non-violent ritual alternatives that uphold cultural and spiritual values without killing animals.
This investigation reinforces ARM’s decades-long mission to confront entrenched cruelty in all its forms. The organization urges media, global influencers, and compassionate citizens to speak out and support this critical campaign.
Please support ARM’s mission to end animal sacrifice and sign their petition HERE!
