Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter -File photo

DHAKA, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS)- Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today said it is very important to conserve endangered animal species and bring them back to the nature.

Effective initiatives should be taken to protect animals and conserve the environment and biodiversity, she said while addressing a workshop.

Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) arranged the workshop titled ‘Livestock Development Research Plan for the Hilly Region' at the hall room of Naikhongchhari Upazila Parishad in Bandarban this afternoon.

Speaking as the chief guest, Farida said it is necessary to test the adaptation capacity of animals due to climate change or other reasons. 

“It also is needed to observe how goats from other areas or chickens here will do. Instead of relying only on broilers or layer chickens, local animal and chicken breeds should be preserved and diversified,” she said.

The livestock adviser said if vaccines are not given on time, diseases spread and the amount of loss goes up. 

Vaccination is important not only for the health of animals but also for human health, she said, adding that the government will take necessary initiatives to involve educated and entrepreneurial youths in the country’s poultry and dairy sectors.

Farida said farmers are being deprived of fair prices of their products due to middlemen in marketing. 

In addition, she said, the cost of their production has increased due to the increase in the price of chickens and feed. 

“If the price of eggs decreases, the suffering of farmers also goes up,” the adviser said, putting emphasis on increasing the production of corn and soybean locally to reduce dependence on imported feed.

Chaired by BLRI Director General Dr Shakila Faruque, the workshop was attended by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Dr Abu Naim Muhammad Abdus Sabur and Bandarban District Livestock Officer Dr Julhas Ahmed as special guests. 

Naikhongchhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Muhammad Mazharul Islam Chowdhury was present as the guest of honour.

Earlier, the livestock adviser delivered her speech as the chief guest speech at the concluding ceremony of the farmer training course titled “Healthy, Safe and Value Added Poultry Production and Marketing with Advanced Technology” held at the BLRI regional centre. 

Besides, she visited the sheds of various animals kept for research at the regional centre.