Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter spoke as the chief guest at a conference at LRI in Mohakhali, capital. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Dec 13, 2025 (BSS) - Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today said that an awareness program will be undertaken in January next to reduce the use of antibiotics for raising public awareness on this issue.

"Various initiatives are being planned to prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics and raising awareness that can play important role in protecting public health," she said while inaugurating a Veterinary Vaccine Conference-2025 at the Livestock Research Institute (LRI) in city's Mohakhali area as the chief guest.

She said that veterinary vaccines are extremely important for animal health, public health, food safety and overall economic development of the country. In this context, this conference is a timely and significant initiative.

She warned that negligence in disease prevention leads to unnecessary use of antibiotics, creating the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This risk has been increasing not only among the humans but also among the animals. Therefore, the vaccination programs must be strengthened to reduce the need for antibiotics. 

She also emphasized on the importance of taking effective measures to stop the misuse of antibiotics.

The Adviser said that it is not enough just to rear livestock animals, like humans, need care, treatment and disease prevention. Since humans consume animals as food, human health largely depends on the health of these animals.

She further said that although the vaccination programs are ongoing to control various infectious diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), Lumpy Skin Disease, PPR and Anthrax, the country must develop its own capacity for vaccine production.

Chaired by Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Dr. Md. Abu Sufian, LRI Director Dr. Md. Mostafa Kamal delivered the welcome address and presented the overall context where Dr. Shakila Faruk spoke as a special guest. 

Experts, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders from the livestock sector were also present.