The government has taken an initiative to construct a new livestock vaccine plant costing around Tk 300 crore to reduce heavy reliance on imports. The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) plans to conduct a feasibility study prior to construction. According to department documents, the study is scheduled to run from October 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.
A senior DLS official said the feasibility study proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and has received policy approval. About 200 acres of land in Gabtali, Bogura, has been initially selected for the proposed plant. However, the project has not yet been included in the Annual Development Program (ADP), preventing the release of necessary funds. The official expressed hope that allocation will be granted soon as the government prioritizes the project. The feasibility study will cover demand, operational costs, design, laboratory equipment specifications, and financial and economic analysis.
Department data highlights the severe shortfall in current production capacity. DLS Planning Branch Director Mohammad Bazlur Rahman said the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute in Savar is the only government facility equipped to produce various vaccines, alongside limited production at a DLS unit in Comilla. Both facilities were established nearly three decades ago. DLS estimates show the institute produces 32 crore doses annually, meeting only 12.31 percent of the total 260 crore dose demand. The remainder is imported from 18 countries at an annual cost of around Tk 5,000 crore. The institute currently produces 17 types of vaccines, while demand for two more has brought the total requirement to 19 types.
DLS Director General Md. Shahzaman Khan said the modern vaccine plant initiative aligns with election manifesto commitments. He detailed the gap between demand and domestic supply: annual demand for Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine is around 3.5 crore doses against local production of 20 to 26 lakh doses. Ranikhet disease vaccine demand stands at 24.36 crore doses against 8.70 crore produced. Duck plague vaccine demand is 8.40 crore doses with 3.54 crore produced. Fowl cholera demand is 22.40 crore doses with local production at just 1.60 crore. Anthrax vaccine demand is 1 crore doses, with 80 lakh doses produced locally.
Speaking at an event, State Minister Sultan Salauddin Tuku emphasized that building domestic vaccine production capacity is crucial for self-reliance. Investing in research, innovation, and skilled scientists will cut import costs, allow rapid response to disease outbreaks, and protect farmers’ incomes. Professor Hafiza Khatun, head of the Department of Animal Science at Bangladesh Agricultural University, welcomed the initiative. She recommended equal emphasis on farm management, farmer awareness, and addressing climate impacts. She noted that Bangladesh has roughly 46.50 crore livestock and poultry, urging increased investment in direct support and nutritional supplements for the sector.
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