Bangladesh Poultry Association Urges Interim Government to Take Urgent Measures to Control Bird Flu

The Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA) has called on the interim government to take immediate action to control the outbreak of bird flu. This appeal was made in a press release signed by BPA President Md. Suman Hawlader on Wednesday (March 26).

According to the statement, the country’s poultry sector is currently facing a deep crisis. Following the detection of bird flu (H5N1) at a farm in Jashore, concerns have arisen regarding the future of the poultry industry. At that farm, 1,900 out of 3,978 chickens died, and the remaining birds were culled. In the past, outbreaks of bird flu have led to the closure of numerous farms, the culling of millions of chickens, and the loss of livelihoods for thousands of farmers.

BPA highlighted that bird flu was first detected in Bangladesh in March 2007, leading to the culling of over 1 million chickens that year. Around 3,370 farms shut down, causing severe financial distress to farmers. In May 2008, the first human infection of bird flu in Bangladesh was reported, raising further concerns. After the massive losses in 2007 and 2008, poultry farmers struggled for a long time to recover.

Another bird flu outbreak occurred in 2013, though it did not significantly impact the poultry industry. However, at the end of 2017, several areas reported cases of bird flu, leading to losses for multiple farms. These outbreaks resulted in the culling of approximately 5 million chickens and the closure of more farms.

BPA stated that repeated bird flu outbreaks have led to the closure of approximately 15,000 to 16,000 small-scale farms. The current outbreak is causing alarming financial losses for farmers. In the past, farmers have invested significant money and effort to control bird flu, with many being forced to shut down their businesses. The present situation is extremely concerning. If the government does not take swift and effective action, more farms may close, severely impacting food security and the economy.

Urging the government to take emergency measures, BPA emphasized the need for collaboration between the government and poultry sector stakeholders. Farmers can enhance their biosecurity measures to protect their businesses, including disinfecting farm entry points, avoiding the sale of sick birds, conducting regular health checks and monitoring, and maintaining cleanliness around farms.

Additionally, BPA called on the government to enforce strict surveillance on poultry sales in the market. The association also demanded the formation of a special task force and compensation