Bangladesh will observe National Livestock Week 2025 for the first time, holding programmes across the country from tomorrow till December 2.
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter announced the schedule at a press conference at the ministry in the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka today.
The week's theme will be "Indigenous breeds, modern technology: Development will advance through the livestock".
To mark the observance, the government will hold awareness activities, rallies, seminars, workshops, exhibitions and a Livestock Awards ceremony.
Under the National Livestock Award Policy, 15 individuals and organisations will be recognised in five categories for their outstanding contributions to the sector. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to first, second and third place recipients respectively.
Planning Ministry Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud is scheduled to present the awards at the inaugural ceremony. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will deliver a congratulatory message via video.
Adviser Farida Akhter said the livestock sector plays a crucial role in socio-economic development, contributing 1.81 percent to GDP with a growth rate of 3.19 percent, and accounting for 16.58 percent of agricultural GDP.
In monetary terms, livestock GDP stands at Tk 91,036 crore, she noted.
She said poultry is now the second-largest employment-generating industry in the country, supported by more than Tk 40,000 crore in private investment. The country has 85,227 registered commercial poultry farms and about 191,000 small-scale farms, producing around 6.68 crore eggs a day.
The adviser highlighted government efforts to curb animal diseases, including the administration of 17 lakh lumpy skin disease vaccine doses, zoning initiatives to eradicate foot and mouth disease, and nearly 6 crore doses of PPR vaccine for goats.
Farida Akhter said the observance of National Livestock Week is expected to promote modern technologies, strengthen safe food production, foster women and youth entrepreneurship, help meet international standards and enhance public-private coordination.