The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a workshop here yesterday underscored the need for taking preventive measures against infection of avian influenza (bird flu) to protect the country's poultry farms from ruination.

Quiet a large number of people at every nook and corner of the country are directly engaged in poultry farming, making significant contribution to the economic development of Bangladesh.

The speakers urged all concerned government and non-government organisations as well as poultry bird farmers should work together to protect this potential sector from any adverse impact.

Besides, they said, focus should be given on creating awareness among the grassroots people side by side with intensifying inter-departmental coordination to check bird flue.

Local unit of Mohila Sanghati Parishad (MSP) and CARE- Bangladesh jointly arranged the workshop styled "Influenza NGO Network" at the conference hall of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The speakers said that measures should be taken to gear up the activities of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and other law enforcing agencies to check smuggling of chicks and eggs into the country from neighbouring India.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and Development) Satyendra Nath Sarker, Training Officer of Department of Agriculture Extension Dr Ittefaqul Azad, District Livestock Officer Khairul Alam and Journalists Mustafizur Rahman Khan Alam and Akbarul Hassan Millat addressed the workshop as guest speakers with MSP president Shahnaj Begum in the chair.

They said steps should be taken to impart motivational training to the poultry farmers, the concerned officers and employees of the Livestock Department and other law enforcers to check any kind adverse impact in this sector.

They said effective steps should be taken to prevent entry of any chick or poultry bird into the country from India.

Owners of the poultry hatcheries, they said, should also be brought under the close supervision and monitoring network of the Department of Livestock.

They also suggested involvement of religious leaders' in creating mass awareness, enforcement of bio-security in laboratory for bird flue test, ensuring availability of one-day chicks at reasonable price at home and raising inter-departmental coordination.