Dhaka, June 13: Leading poultry health experts from home and abroad have called for stronger biosecurity measures, science-based disease management and enhanced disease surveillance to tackle the growing threat of respiratory diseases in Bangladesh's poultry sector.

The recommendations emerged at the Bangladesh Poultry Respiratory Health Summit, an educational initiative jointly organized by Kemin Biologics and Rafique Medicine Bangladesh at The Westin Dhaka on  Saturday (13 June 2026). The summit brought together poultry industry leaders, veterinarians, researchers, academicians and industry professionals to discuss emerging respiratory health challenges affecting poultry production and profitability.

The programme was moderated by Dr Sohail Al Mahmud, Senior Manager (Sales), Kemin Biologics, and Dr. Sukanto Bhowmik, Manager (Marketing), Rafique Medicine and RRP Agro Farms, who guided participants through a series of scientific presentations and discussions.

In his welcome address, Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman, General Manager of RRP Group, emphasized the importance of collaboration among industry stakeholders to ensure the sustainable growth of Bangladesh's poultry industry. He noted that knowledge-sharing initiatives and continuous professional development are essential for improving disease preparedness and strengthening the sector's resilience.

Delivering the keynote presentation, renowned Thai poultry expert Prof Prof. Dr. Jiroj Sasipreeyajan presented a session titled "2026 Poultry Respiratory Disease Update: Infectious Bronchitis (IBV) and Emerging Challenges." He highlighted the evolving nature of Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV), its economic impact on poultry production and the growing challenges posed by emerging viral variants. He stressed the need for effective surveillance systems and adaptive vaccination strategies to minimize production losses.

In another technical session, Dr. Jayaraman Krishnarajan discussed "The Interplay Between IBH and Respiratory Diseases in the South Asian Poultry Industry." He explained the relationship between Inclusion Body Hepatitis (IBH) and respiratory diseases. He underscored the importance of integrated disease management supported by timely diagnosis, improved farm practices and effective vaccination programmes.

Sharing Kemin's global experience in poultry health management, Dr. Abdullah Makahleh, Global Technical Service Manager of Kemin Biologics, delivered a presentation titled "Kemin Expertise Driving Effective Poultry Respiratory Disease Control." He highlighted the company's research, technological innovations and biosecurity strategies aimed at preventing and controlling respiratory diseases. He noted that early disease detection, preventive healthcare and evidence-based interventions are critical to maintaining flock health and improving farm productivity.

The summit concluded with an interactive panel discussion, where participants exchanged views on practical challenges faced by poultry farmers and sought expert guidance on disease prevention and control. The lively question-and-answer session reflected the industry's growing interest in adopting innovative and sustainable approaches to poultry health management.

In his closing remarks, Md Azmal Hossain, Director (Marketing) of RRP Group, thanked the speakers and participants for their active engagement and reaffirmed the organization's commitment to supporting knowledge-based initiatives that advance Bangladesh's poultry industry.

Participants observed that international-standard educational platforms such as this summit play a vital role in enhancing preparedness against emerging poultry diseases, promoting scientific knowledge exchange and strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of Bangladesh's rapidly expanding poultry sector. They expressed optimism that continued collaboration between industry, academia and animal health experts would help ensure a more sustainable, productive and disease-resilient future for the country's poultry industry.