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Tuesday | September 29, 2026 | Dhaka

Tuku calls for stronger rabies prevention in rural areas

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:01 AM, 29 September 2026

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku on Monday called for stronger rabies prevention measures in rural areas, saying vaccination, public awareness and timely treatment could significantly reduce infections and deaths from the disease.

Tuku made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organised by the Department of Livestock Services to mark World Rabies Day 2026.

The event was held at the conference room of the Cotton Development Board in the capital. This year’s theme is “Stronger Together”.

The state minister said preventing rabies was more important than trying to control the disease after infection. He called for expanding vaccination programmes, raising public awareness and ensuring prompt and effective treatment for people following infection.

Tuku said awareness about rabies was relatively high among urban populations but remained low at the grassroots level.

As a result, more rabies-related deaths were observed in rural areas, he said, stressing that prevention and control activities must therefore be strengthened in rural communities alongside urban areas.

He said initiatives would be taken to launch nationwide activities to strengthen rabies prevention.

The state minister also stressed the close link between animal disease control and human health protection.

He said government programmes should address animal and public health in an integrated manner, particularly as people were becoming increasingly concerned about whether animals used for food were disease-free and safe.

Tuku said the livestock sector played a vital role in the country’s grassroots economy. Disease control, protection of animal health and greater awareness among farmers and livestock rearers were essential to fully realise the sector’s potential, he added.

He called for more seminars, publicity campaigns and field-level activities to raise awareness in rural areas.

“At the same time, supervision of field-level officials needs to be further intensified. Only then it will be possible to achieve the desired goals in rabies prevention,” Tuku said.

Md Salim Khan, Executive Director (Routine Charge) of the Cotton Development Board, attended the programme as the special guest, while Md Shahzaman Khan, Director General (in-charge) of the Department of Livestock Services, chaired the event.

Dr Md Bayzer Rahman, Director (Administration) of the Department of Livestock Services, delivered the welcome address. Dr Begum Shamsunnahar Ahmed, Director (Extension), also spoke.

Keynote presentations were delivered by Dr Md A Mannan Miah, Deputy Director of the Department of Livestock Services, and Dr Mehedi Hasan Bhuiyan, project director of the rabies prevention project.

Earlier, a procession was held at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) to mark World Rabies Day.