Ducks die in hundreds

Kishoreganj District Livestock Officer (DLO) Nurul Islam sent two dead ducks for investigation to Central Diseases Investigation Laboratory (CDIL) at Bangabazar in Dhaka on September 26. But he is yet to receive the report till filing the story. He collected the ducks after visiting duck farms in Dhampara union, Karpasa union, Saroitala union and Niklee.

When contacted, Niklee Upazila Livestock Officer (ULO) Mizanur Rahman told this correspondent the sick ducks died overnight. While visiting the affected farms he found the dead ducks were being thrown into the river instead of burying them. In reply to a query, he failed to tell the exact number of dead ducks. 'As the ducks roam about in marshy lands for food, the disease is spreading fast,' he informed this correspondent.

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The ULO also disclosed that he had sent two dead ducks to the Head of Bangladesh Agriculture University laboratory in Mymensingh, Prof Dr Prio Mohan Das. 'Personally, I have detected the disease as 'Mycoplasmosis,' he said. 'But we have to wait for the CDIL report,' he added.

Shadhin, a duck farmer said to this correspondent he had already lost 200 out of 1,000 ducks till now. He lamented for delay in detection of the disease.

Another farmer, Kanchan Mia who lost 250 ducks expressed his disappointment saying the report from the CDIL would reach after death of all ducks.

Local duck farmers have demanded of the authorities concerned for immediate step to protect the remaining ducks.