Sultan Salauddin Tuku, the state minister for fisheries and livestock, has said that although locally produced vaccines currently meet only 15 per cent of the country’s livestock demand, the remaining 85 percent has to be imported.
He emphasised that research and innovation activities must be further strengthened to achieve the capability of producing required vaccines locally and reduce import dependency.
He made the remarks as chief guest at the inauguration of Annual Research Review Workshop 2026, organised in the BLRI conference room on Wednesday.
Adding that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to increase local production capacity, reduce import reliance, and ensure food security, the state minister said the country must move forward by building its own capabilities through research, innovation, and combined efforts. He invites everyone to play a responsible role from their respective positions in the country’s development.
The state minister also added that research and innovations by BLRI scientists have introduced new technology to the livestock sector, which is also playing a positive role in the national economy.
He noted that there is no alternative to producing safe food to ensure food security. The global ‘One Health’ concept is gaining importance, under which there is a close relationship between animal health, livestock food safety, and public health. Therefore, everyone concerned must act responsibly to ensure that every product produced in the livestock sector is safe.
The state minister pointed out that unnecessary and unplanned antibiotic use in the livestock sector poses serious public health risks. Awareness must be raised particularly to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Training and motivational programmes should be strengthened to prevent marginal farmers from indiscriminately using antibiotics. Ensuring the rational use of antibiotics will safeguard public health as well as lower livestock production costs.
Praising BLRI’s innovations, the state minister said the institution has already handed over two vaccines to the Department of Livestock Services. He expressed hope that the pace of such innovations and technology transfer will increase further in future.
Earlier while speaking to reporters, the state minister said workers returned to factories after the government formed the Minimum Wage Board to increase readymade garment (RMG) industry workers’ wages. However, a group is trying to create an unstable situation by obstructing workers from joining work.
Tuku added that the government has already taken action, and law enforcement agencies are taking necessary measures after identifying the instigators of disorder.
Chaired by Shakila Faruque, director general of BLRI, the event was attended by Khondoker Abu Ashfaque, member of parliament for Dhaka-1; Md Yasin Ferdous Murad, administrator of Dhaka Zila Parishad; and Md Shahzaman Khan, director general of the Department of Livestock Services, as special guests.
Meanwhile, senior officials of the ministry, teachers from various universities, BLRI scientists, researchers, and farmers were also present.
