United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh will export locally produced vaccines in the future while ensuring domestic demand, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar said on Sunday. "Lumpy Skin Disease is a transboundary animal disease, and its impact extends beyond livestock, affecting people directly and indirectly," she said. She made the remarks as the chief guest at a ceremony marking the handover of the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) vaccine seed developed under the "Zoonosis and Transboundary Animal Disease Prevention and Control Research" project by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) at a hotel in Dhaka. Highlighting the importance of vaccine production, she urged authorities to assess the economic damage caused by the disease and ramp up research and laboratory capabilities. "Due to climate change, new diseases and pathogens are emerging. The government is committed to supporting scientists in combating these challenges," she added. She emphasised that livestock officials must continue raising awareness about LSD to determine whether consuming infected beef poses risks to human health. BGMEA administrator’s tenure extended by 4 months   BLRI Director General Dr Shakila Farooq presided over the ceremony. Other dignitaries included Director General of the Department of Livestock Dr Md Abu Sufian, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Amena Begum, and senior officials from the Ministry, BLRI, and the Livestock Department.

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar urged the farmers to increase the production of fish and meat to meet the rising demand during Ramadan. She also called authorities to ensure that surplus food products from the region are sent to other departments to manage the increased demand. The adviser made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a view-exchange meeting with officials from the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Livestock at the Eque Heritage Hotel and Resort in Nilphamari’s Saidpur on Saturday. Health Adviser calls for better utilization of medical training and return of doctors from abroad She also called on officials to work closely with farmers to ensure marginal farmers benefit from these initiatives. She also discussed efforts to combat illegal fishing nets, saying that simply punishing fishermen was not enough. She stressed the need for urgent action to shut down factories that produce illegal nets. The government is working to improve the living conditions of fishermen by distributing modern registration cards. She assured that the government is taking steps to reduce the exploitation of farmers by middlemen, so farmers can receive fair prices for their products. She also mentioned the government's efforts to address the shortage of vaccines for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) that affects livestock, especially among marginal farmers. To discourage tobacco cultivation, the adviser highlighted the harmful health effects of tobacco, which increases the risk of premature death. All conspiracies to destroy communal harmony to be thwarted: Adviser She suggested that farmers could grow corn instead of tobacco to meet the shortage of cattle fodder. The meeting was chaired by Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nairuzzaman and attended by divisional-level officers from the Department of Fisheries and Livestock in Rangpur, along with livestock officers and district fisheries officers from Gaibandha, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Nilphamari districts.

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter on Friday underscored the importance of preserving the songs of Fakir Lalon Shah, calling them essential for future generations to understand and appreciate his teachings. Speaking at an event marking the 134th death anniversary of the revered mystic poet at Nabapran Akhrabari in Cheuria, Kushtia, the adviser said, “It is crucial to know Fakir Lalon Shah, uphold his songs, and spread them far and wide to make them popular.” Adviser Rizwana promotes healthy habits for stronger future She emphasized the cultural significance of Lalon's music, urging that it remain unchanged. "Those who love Lalon Shah also love his songs," she remarked. "There should be no modification in Lalon's songs; they must be preserved in their original form." The event brought together people to commemorate the legacy of Lalon, whose songs continue to inspire devotion and reflection. Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Sayeed Mahmood Belal Haider, poet and philosopher Farhad Mazhar, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Kushtia Sharmin Akhtar, and Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman were among those who also spoke at the event, reflecting on Lalon’s enduring influence on Bangladeshi culture.