He said these things in his speech as chief guest at a discussion meeting organised by the Department of Livestock Services at the conference room of the Cotton Development Board in the capital on Monday, on the occasion of World Rabies Day 2026. This year's theme was—‘Stronger Together: Together, stronger—let us build a rabies-free world’.

The State Minister said that awareness about rabies is lower at the grassroots level compared to the city. As a result, deaths from the disease are also seen more in rural areas. Therefore, vaccination, public awareness and preventive activities must be strengthened at the rural level alongside the city.

He said that controlling animal diseases is directly linked to protecting human health. Therefore, activities must be carried out by considering animal health and public health in an integrated manner. He also emphasised increasing seminars, publicity campaigns and field-level activities to raise awareness at the grassroots level.

Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Md. Shahjaman Khan, Executive Director of the Cotton Development Board Md. Rezaul Amin and other senior officials were present at the event. The keynote paper highlighted the rabies situation in the country, dog vaccination programmes and various initiatives to eliminate rabies by 2030.

Earlier, a rally was held at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in the capital on the occasion of World Rabies Day. The Department of Livestock Services and the Directorate General of Health Services, public and private institutions, development partner organisations, veterinarians, students and other stakeholders participated in it.