Livestock antibiotic misuse could fuel future health crisis: Adviser
Farida Akhter, Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, highlighted the urgent issue of excessive antibiotic use in livestock, warning it could increase antimicrobial resistance and severely threaten human health.
She noted that close contact between humans and livestock increases the risk of antibiotic exposure to people. She called for responsible antibiotic use during the inauguration of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute regional centre and the 2025 Workshop in Saidpur.
Continuing the discussion, Farida Akhter outlined specific strategies to strengthen the sector, including preserving local poultry, promoting duck eggs, supporting the feed industry, and protecting farmers' interests regarding beef imports.
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She also emphasised the importance of affordable feed solutions to stabilise poultry and egg prices, and encouraged targeted research to achieve practical results.
Presiding over the workshop, BLRI Director General Dr. Shakila Faruq noted that as Bangladesh advances toward becoming a middle-income country, the demand for animal protein is expected to rise, emphasizing that research is crucial for conserving local breeds and reducing production costs.
The event also featured remarks from Additional Secretary Nilufa Akhter; Department of Fisheries DG Dr Md Abdur Rauf; Department of Livestock Services DG Dr Md Abu Sufian; and BFRI DG Dr Anuradha Bhadra, with Dr Md Sazedul Karim Sarker of BLRI presenting the keynote paper.
