Shafik Rana (Special Correspondent)

The closing workshop of the development project titled “Strengthening Poultry Research and Development (2nd Revised)”, implemented by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), was held today, 20 June 2026, at BLRI’s headquarters in Savar.

The inaugural session of the closing workshop was attended by Mr. Md. Delwar Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, as the Chief Guest. Special guests included Dr. Kazi Imdadul Haque, former Director General of BLRI, and Dr. Begum Shamsunnahar Ahmed, Director (Extension), Department of Livestock Services. The session was chaired by Dr. Shakila Faruk, Director General of BLRI.

The opening ceremony officially began at 11:00 AM in the institute’s conference room (4th floor) with recitations from the holy scriptures. Following this, welcome remarks and a presentation on the implementation progress and achievements of the project were delivered by Dr. Md. Sazedul Karim Sarkar, Project Director, Chief Scientific Officer, and Head of Office at BLRI. During his presentation, he highlighted the outcomes of various research activities conducted under the project, as well as its physical and infrastructural achievements.

Following the keynote presentation, an expert discussion session was held. Speakers included Professor Dr. Md. Shawkat Ali, Head of the Department of Poultry Science at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, and Dr. Nathu Ram Sarkar, former Director General of BLRI. An open discussion followed, where representatives from various ministries, university professors, and delegates from governmental and non-governmental organizations shared their views on the project’s activities.

In his address, the Chief Guest, Mr. Md. Delwar Hossain, emphasized that to advance in science and knowledge, it is essential to secure patents for newly developed technologies. He stated that technologies developed under the project should promptly be submitted for patent registration and stressed that research must be original. He also highlighted the importance of reducing dependence on foreign resources and conducting advanced research domestically using local expertise to address national challenges.

Additionally, he instructed BLRI to take initiatives to resolve the issues raised during the workshop and to quickly submit relevant research project proposals to the ministry.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Shakila Faruk stated that several technologies had been developed under the project and that initiatives would be taken to both transfer these technologies to the field level and secure patents for them. She also noted that several local and international germplasms had been collected and preserved under the project. Many farmers who received training under the project had become entrepreneurs. She added that the equipment purchased under the project would be properly maintained and that efforts would be made to retain the skilled personnel involved in the project in the future.

Representatives from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, various government ministries and departments, the Department of Livestock Services, university faculty members, organizations and NGOs involved in poultry production and research, BLRI scientists and officials at different levels, and media representatives attended the workshop.