Karnaphuli, Chattogram, Broadcasting News Corporation: Highlighting the importance of the Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC), Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar said, “Chattogram is the land of red cows. They may produce slightly less milk, but in terms of meat and breed characteristics, Red Chittagong cattle are unparalleled in the world. Therefore, conserving this breed is extremely important for us.

The advisor made these remarks while delivering the keynote speech at a seminar titled ‘Development of the Dairy Sector in the Chattogram Region: Prospects and Necessary Steps’ on Wednesday morning (28 January 2026) at the field adjacent to A.K. Agro and Dairy Hub in Shikhalbahah, Karnaphuli Upazila.

The Fisheries and Livestock Advisor said that Bangladesh spends nearly 50 billion taka annually importing powdered milk. If this money were spent on increasing domestic milk production, the need for imports would decrease. Powdered milk also increases the risk of adulteration in liquid milk. Therefore, we must take a pledge to reduce imports and increase the production of domestic liquid milk.
Regarding electricity bills and subsidies, the adviser said that after extensive discussions and efforts, a 20 percent electricity bill rebate and a subsidy of 10 crore taka have been made possible for the fisheries and livestock sectors. Although this is an initial initiative, attempts will be made to increase it further in the future as needed.
Emphasizing the registration of farmers, he said that the real picture cannot be known without registration. If registration is done online, all information will be available in one place, making policy-making easier.
The adviser said that through the Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP), farmers have received training, PG groups have been established, and dairy activities have become a part of many people’s lives. He said, ‘Many people say that even without calculating profits and losses, this has now become a part of their lives. This means that in the future, they will be able to earn a sustainable livelihood from this.’
Addressing women, he said that milk is not just a production statistic—how much milk people consume is also important. Milk is especially essential for women, children, and the elderly, as it helps prevent bone diseases and osteoporosis. Referring to the success of the school feeding program through LLDP, the advisor said that supplying milk in schools not only ensures children’s nutrition but also plays an important role in the development of their intellect. This is an effective initiative for poor and urban children.
He said that Bangladesh is a country of young people. Young people need to step forward in the dairy industry. The government will provide necessary support. We are a resilient nation—we must continue this struggle for the development of the country.
At the seminar, chaired by Dr. Md. Abu Sufian, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, speeches were delivered by Md. Shahina Ferdousi, Executive Director of Bangladesh Dairy Development Board; Md. Shahjaman Khan Tuhin, Director (Artificial Insemination) of the Department of Livestock Services; Dr. Begum Shamsunnahar, Director (Extension); Dr. Md. Atiyar Rahman, Divisional Livestock Officer (Director) of Chattogram; and Md. Iqbal Hossain, Director of A K Agro and Dairy Farm.
The welcome speech at the event was given by Dr. Md. Boyez, Director (Administration) of the Department of Livestock Services.