SAVAR: Army troops moved out in the field here to deal with a much-orchestrated anthrax endemic, amid prevailing apprehensions among the commoners in different districts of the country about the cattle-borne disease.

A team of the 9th battalion of the army already started operation vaccinating livestock in different areas of the upazila on the outskirts of the capital.

Besides, several initiatives have been taken to create awareness among the common people of the area under the circumstances, sources said in a spot account of the military measure against the perceived menace.

Lieutenant Colonel Chowdhury Azizul Haq Hazari, General Staff Officer of the battalion, said the activities were started limitedly on receipt of an order from the army headquarters.

A high official of the army, wishing anonymity, said, ”Major-General Ashraf Abdullah Yusuf, GOC of the 9th Infantry Division, wants to know the actions to be done from the army headquarters after having received request from the civil administration.”

Getting positive opinions from the army headquarters, he added, the troops moved out to the field.

The correspondent of banglanews found army personnel busy pushing vaccine into cattle-heads.

A team led by Captain Polash Uddin, assistant officer of Savar military farm, started working at Ashulia’s Dhanajoy Primary School.

Captain Polash said, “We have started working after getting the order from higher authority.”        

A target was fixed to vaccinate to some 5,000 domestic animals on the first day, he added.

Official of the battalion said the activities would continue until further directions.

Dr Farhadul Alam, Livestock Officer of Savar upazila, said army is working of its own supervision. “The activities would play an important role in creating awareness among the common people of the area,” he said.

BDST: 1705 HRS, SEPT 23, 2010