An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease has left hundreds of cattle infected in Kurigram ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
This has raised fears of heavy losses for marginal farmers and disrupted preparations for the sacrificial animal market.
Farmers, livestock officials and local residents said the infections spread rapidly across Kurigram Sadar, Rajarhat and Bhurungamari upazilas after continuous rainfall and damp weather conditions created a favourable environment for the diseases. At least 10 to 12 cattle have already died in the district, while around 250 to 300 cattle have been infected so far.
The outbreak has sparked concern among small-scale cattle rearers who had been fattening animals for Eid sales. Many fear they may not recover their investment as infected cattle lose weight and market value.
District livestock officials said Kurigram has prepared around 1,16,000 cattle and 1,80,000 goats and sheep for Eid markets this year.
In Harishwar Jotgobardhan village under Kathalbari Union of Kurigram Sadar, three cattle, including a pregnant cow, died from FMD within the past week, according to local residents. More than 20 cattle in the area have also been infected.
Jotgobardhan resident Altaf Hossain said his Friesian cow died despite treatment, causing him a loss of nearly Tk1.5 lakh. He said more cattle in the village were also infected.
Harishwar village farmer Abu Hossain said he raises one or two cattle every year for Eid sales to support his family expenses. “Just when it was time to sell the animal, the disease ruined everything. The cow is seriously ill and I do not even know whether it will survive,” he said.
Another small farmer, Ekramul Haque, said three cattle in his farm were infected. One dairy cow suffered severe tongue damage from the disease, forcing milk production to stop. He said uncertainty over the animals’ survival had left him in distress.
Cattle trader Jabbar Mia, who has been raising three bulls for the Eid market over the past four months, said fears over low market prices and disease outbreaks had increased anxiety among farmers even though his cattle remain healthy.
Belghacha Union livestock practitioner Abul Kalam Azad said many infected cattle were recovering after treatment, but farmers were still facing financial losses as weak animals fetch lower prices in the market.
He blamed inadequate vaccination coverage and high vaccine prices for the spread of the disease. “Many farmers avoid vaccination before infection because of the cost. As a result, the virus spreads quickly,” he said.
Livestock workers in Ulipur’s char areas also reported widespread infections among cattle, particularly animals being fattened for Eid sales.
Kurigram District Livestock Officer Md Habibur Rahman said the infection rate was higher in three upazilas, although cases were also emerging elsewhere in the district.
“We are providing treatment at the field level and monitoring the situation closely,” he said. “Ring vaccination around infected areas is necessary to contain the outbreak, but vaccine supply is limited and costs remain high.”
