Chick import from India

During recent trade negotiations the Indians asked us to end the ban on import of day-old parent stock chicks (chicks which are imported by hatcheries) from India. We already have a huge trade deficit with India that is further growing. In these circumstances, why should we remove this ban on chick import? Removing the ban will cause the trade deficit to grow even faster.

The Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association recently published an advertisement informing the public that bird flu is present in India. Removing the ban on import of chicks from India could invite the disease to Bangladesh. A bird flu outbreak would scare consumers and prevent them from eating chicken. People engaged in raising poultry would become unemployed.

Many people have died of bird flu in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. And the threat of the disease spreading in the subcontinent is always there.

Considering these three factors (the trade deficit with India, the survival of our poultry industry, and the threat to our health), I hope that the government will continue the ban on import of chicks from India.