Laboratory tests confirmed infection of the virus at Laura Poultry Farm at Aukpara in Savar yesterday evening. A total of 2,000 chickens were culled as of 10:00pm yesterday.

All the chickens at the infected farm will be culled, Livestock Department Director Abdul Motaleb told reporters last night.

The army and police cordoned off the infected farm.

Suspicion arose that the farm was infected with avian influenza--bird flu--after a considerable number of chickens died there on Friday, sources in the Savar Upazila Livestock Office said.

Upon receiving information, livestock officers from both the capital and Savar rushed to the farm yesterday morning and sent sample of chickens to the laboratory in Dhaka for testing.

Four teams of the Savar Livestock Office have been conducting drives in the area to investigate if there is any fresh infection of the avian flu virus at any farm or place in the upazila.

Meanwhile, our Narayanganj correspondent reports: Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Dr Chowdhury Sajedul Karim visited two bird flu-infected poultry farms in the district yesterday and urged all to remain alert about the virus' infection.

"Although infection and spreading of the virus has been prevented temporarily, everyone should always remain alert to keep the poultry farm industry alive," said Sajedul Karim at a meeting with poultry farm owners, local journalists and government officials.

"The [fisheries and livestock] ministry will sort out a working plan by next week to determine how to help or compensate the affected poultry farm owners," he added.

Earlier, Sajedul visited Mukta Poultry Farm in Narayanganj sadar upazila and Chistia Poultry Farm at Shiarchar in Fatulla.

The adviser gave assurance to provide modernised instrument, increase trained manpower, and other laboratory facilities for testing bird flu infection.

He also directed the deputy commissioner (DC) to take necessary measures to provide the tuition fees and other necessary academic facilities for the children of the affected poultry farm owners.

Livestock Secretary Syed Ataur Rahman, Joint Secretary Khalilur Rahman Siddique, Deputy Secretary Anisur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner Ahsan Habib and Superintendent of Police Sibgatullah were present at the meeting among others.

There are 989 poultry farms in Narayanganj. A total of 2,476 chickens have so far died since the detection of the virus while 12,004 chickens were culled at the bird flu-infected farms in the district.