Cattle take the brunt of cold

Cattle in the country's northern districts are being infected with different cold-related diseases due to the bitter cold that has been prevailing over the region for the last couple of weeks.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), locally known as Khura Rog, is spreading fast, forcing cattle farmers to invest extra efforts and money to protect the cattle.

Milk production has declined as the cattle are suffering from disease as well as malnutrition, said farmers.

"My eight cows and a calf were infected with the disease. Later, the calf died. I am worried about the rest of my cattle," said Amijul Islam, 60, a cattle farmer of Jhaljhali Kazipara village in Boda upazila of Panchagarh.

"I have to spend Tk 1,500 for each of my cattle to provide them treatment," he added.

Rabiul Islam, 32, a cattle farmer of the upazila's Shingpara village, said, "One of my cows used to give around eight litres of milk every day. Now, the cow has been infected with the disease and gives significantly less."

Contacted, a local veterinary worker Ahsan Habib said when a cow is infected with FMD, the cow cannot take food properly and gradually become weaker. Thus, fail to produce regular milk.

Thakurgaon's livestock officer Altaf Hossain said the numbers of infected cattle are increasing as the cold prolonging.

He also advised cattle farmers to keep cattle shades clean and to wash cattle's feet and mouths with water mixing Potassium permanganate to control the infection.

In Lalmonirhat, cattle are suffering from malnutrition as they cannot take food and water due to severe cold.

"My cows and goats are suffering from cough and fever. They cannot drink water and food. So, they cannot give me sufficient milk," said Afzal Hossain, 60, a farmer from Char Kulaghat village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

"Normally, I used to get around nine litres of milk per day from three cows. Now, I get between 5 and 6 litres of milk," he informed.

In Bogura, cattle farmers are working hard to protect their cattle that have been suffering from a different cold-related disease.

"My two cows have suffered from cough Banga (a cold-related disease) for the last few days. I am trying to keep them well by treating them with hot water and mustard oil," said Habizar Mollah, 70, of Kuripara Char in Sariakandi upazila.

Contacted, the district livestock officer Rafiqul Islam Talukdar said they were running a vaccination program to protect cattle from cold-borne diseases.

In Nilphmari, cattle are being infected with diarrhea, pneumonia, sneezing, cough, and fever.

Many farmers are gathering at different upazila livestock offices to cure their livestock.

Meanwhile, ferry services on two major routes -- Paturia-Daulatdia and Shimulia-Banglabazar -- remained closed for eight to twelve hours from Saturday night to yesterday morning due to dense fog.

Several hundreds of vehicles were stranded at the sides of the Padma due to the suspension of ferry services.

A weather bulletin of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) yesterday said, "Moderate to thick fog may occur over the country during midnight to noon."

"Night and day temperature may rise slightly over the country," it added.

The 24-hour bulletin was released at 9:00am yesterday.

Yesterday's lowest temperature was recorded 9.7 degrees Celsius at Sreemangol of Moulvibazar.

[Our correspondents from Thakurgoan, Lalmonirhat, Bogura, Nilphamari, and Manikganj contributed to this report]