Floods Cause Nearly Tk771.5 Million in Livestock Losses Across Bangladesh's Chattogram Division

Recent floods have caused an estimated Tk771.5 million (approximately Tk77.15 crore) in losses to the livestock sector across Bangladesh's Chattogram Division, according to the latest report from the Divisional Livestock Department.

The report states that 161,394 livestock, ducks and poultry birds died during the floods, while more than 3.33 million animals and 10,991 livestock and poultry farms were affected in varying degrees.

The damage was recorded across 191 unions in 45 upazilas spanning five districts. Chattogram district suffered the heaviest losses, estimated at Tk600.68 million, followed by Cox's Bazar with Tk135.39 million, Rangamati with Tk29.98 million, Khagrachhari with Tk3.7 million, and Bandarban with Tk1.75 million.

According to the report, 4,756 livestock farms sustained losses worth Tk175.57 million, while damage to 6,235 poultry and duck farms amounted to Tk197.3 million.

The floods also destroyed significant quantities of animal feed, including 910 tonnes of concentrated feed, 14,265 tonnes of straw, and 9,129 tonnes of grass, adding to the sector's financial losses. The value of livestock and poultry deaths alone has been estimated at nearly Tk48.5 million.

Floodwaters submerged extensive grazing land across the division, including 1,001 acres in Chattogram, 7,840 acres in Cox's Bazar, 510 acres in Bandarban, and 1,129 acres in Rangamati.

Among the animals killed were 71 cattle, 165 goats, 50 sheep, 158,600 chickens and 2,508 ducks. Chattogram district accounted for the majority of the losses, with 39 cattle, 95 goats, 42 sheep, 142,137 chickens and 1,300 ducks reported dead.

The floods also left a large number of animals sick. Across the five affected districts, 223,390 cattle, 4,755 buffaloes, 160,087 sheep, 2,845,828 chickens and 70,370 ducks were reported to have fallen ill.

Veterinary authorities have so far provided treatment to 11,897 livestock and 84,650 ducks and poultry birds, while 10,689 livestock and 19,027 ducks and poultry birds have been vaccinated to help prevent disease outbreaks.

In addition to the losses in the livestock sector, the floods also damaged three livestock department offices in Chattogram, one in Cox's Bazar and four in Bandarban.

Dr. Muhammad Izmal Hasan, Deputy Director (Veterinary Public Health) of the Chattogram Divisional Livestock Department, said field-level assessments indicate that total losses in the livestock sector have reached approximately Tk771.5 million.