Bhangura (Pabna) Correspondent :
Panic has spread among farmers in Bhangura upazila of Pabna due to the outbreak of cow-plague. In order to get rid of this disease, it is being distributed delicious milk food in the villages. On Thursday (May 26) night, villagers distributed chhinni(Made of milk) in Jhenaigari village of Bhangura union of the upazila. On Wednesday, farmers in Kolkati village cooked milk food and feed about 4 hundred people.
Mojibar Rahman of Kolkati village said that two cows of his nephew Nowshader Hossain died suddenly trembling while eating grass. The value of which is Tk.2 lakh and 20 thousand. Abdul Jabbar of the village said that a cow worth Tk 150,000 of his younger brother Nazrul Islam had died with similar symptoms. An expensive cow of Abdul Quader of Jhenaigari village also died in this way. Waz Uddin, a cattle farmer at Jhenaigari Mandal More, said that only valuable cows are dying due to unknown diseases. So it didn’t go out from this village without distribute any kind of chhinni. For this, they are organizing milads mahfil with the invitation of clerics and they are cooking delicious pies with cow’s milk and feeding the villagers.
Upazila Animal Resources Officer (Acting) VS Dr. Mahfuza Shamima Akhter said the disease is thought to be anthrax. Samples of dead cows were collected and sent to the lab for testing. He said that eating raw grass can cause this disease. This is because the soil in this region is infested with anthrax. He also said that the dead cows have been instructed to be buried in the ground.
Asked about the chhinni, the doctor said, “Maybe it’s because of the farmers’ misconception!” But it has no basis. Other cattle have also been vaccinated against anthrax after receiving news that the cows have fallen ill and died.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Nahid Hasan Khan said that a public awareness campaign will be launched in those villages soon with the help of Animal Resources Officer. He also advised to refrain from slaughtering sick cows and not to eat meat.
