No Poultry Processing Plant at BAU, Yet Research Project Completed!

BAU Correspondent:  Dr. Md. Elias Hossain, a professor in the Department of Poultry Science at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), submitted a research report under the funding of BAU Research System (BAURES) while allegedly providing false information regarding the establishment of a poultry processing plant.

According to sources, during the BAURES annual workshop in April 2024, he falsely claimed that a poultry processing plant had been set up at the BAU poultry farm.

The workshop report summary stated that the project was completed in two phases. The first phase involved observing poultry slaughtering conditions in local markets in Mymensingh and assessing the microbiological quality of chicken meat from both local markets and processing units. The second phase claimed that a mini poultry processing plant, covering 150 square feet with open sides, had been established at the BAU poultry farm.

As per the research findings, this mini processing plant was supposedly established last year. However, an on-site inspection revealed that there was no such complete processing plant at the BAU poultry farm. Instead, only an unfinished structure without a roof or walls was found.

Tanvir Ahmed, Lecturer and Officer-in-Charge of the BAU poultry farm, confirmed that no processing plant currently exists at the farm, though construction work is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Dr. Paresh Kumar Sarma, a senior scientific officer at BAURES, stated that the project officially concluded in 2024.

As per BAURES regulations, an evaluation committee was formed to validate the research findings. The committee included Dr. Md. Ruhul Amin from the Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Dr. Khan Md. Shaiful Islam from the Department of Animal Nutrition, and Dr. Mohammad Al-Mamun.

When asked how research results were submitted without a functional processing plant, Dr. Khan Md. Shaiful Islam said, “I was part of the research evaluation team. However, our job was to review the research findings, observations, and methodology. Financial monitoring is not our responsibility; BAURES handles that. We did not specifically verify whether a processing plant was included in the research paper. That aspect is monitored by the BAURES financial committee. Our role was to evaluate the research topic, methodology, and results.”

Repeated attempts to contact Dr. Mohammad Al-Mamun for comments were unsuccessful.

Addressing the issue of how the research was completed without a processing plant, Dr. Elias Hossain explained, “The goal of my research was to ensure that all poultry leaving the BAU poultry farm goes through a processing plant, maintaining hygiene and cleanliness. However, due to space constraints and other faculty members’ poultry shed constructions, the mini processing plant could not be completed on time. Later, the department decided to allocate space near the pond at the poultry farm’s far end, and the department itself took responsibility for overseeing the construction. Work on the plant began last year, but progress was delayed due to monsoon-related challenges such as water drainage and land filling. Currently, 80% of the construction is complete, with only the roof and tin shed remaining to be installed.”