Govt calls for coordinated action against irrational antibiotic use

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku on Sunday emphasises the need for coordinated efforts to curb the irrational use of antibiotics in both humans and animals, stressing that it is crucial for ensuring food security and protecting public health.

He makes the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at an awareness workshop on the implementation of the Veterinary Antimicrobial Stewardship Guideline (VAG) at a city hotel in the capital.

He says ensuring food security remains one of the government’s top priorities, adding that collective initiatives are required to address the growing risks linked to the misuse of antibiotics, which affect both human and animal health.

Tuku says the unnecessary use of antibiotics weakens the body’s ability to fight diseases and creates serious public health risks.

He adds that similar misuse in the livestock sector leads to long-term harmful consequences.

He notes that many marginal farmers use antibiotics without proper guidance in the hope of quick treatment, while lacking awareness of its adverse effects, which he identifies as a major challenge.

Highlighting the role of veterinary professionals, he stresses that antibiotics should not be used without the advice of qualified veterinarians.

He also calls on livestock officials at district and upazila levels to strengthen monitoring and expand awareness activities.

He says that if an integrated approach involving veterinarians, field-level officials and farmers can be strengthened, the success achieved in Barishal can be replicated across the country.

The workshop is organised by the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) with support from the Antimicrobial Resistance Multi-Partner Trust Fund (AMR MPTF) project.

It is chaired by Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Md Shahjaman Khan and is also addressed by Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Secretary Md Delwar Hossain and Chief Veterinary Officer of Bangladesh Dr Md Boyzar Rahman.

National AMR Consultant of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Dr Md Habibur Rahman presents the keynote paper on antimicrobial stewardship.

Senior officials from the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, DLS, World Health Organization (WHO), WOAH, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other government and non-government organisations are present at the workshop.