While the farm owners said different aspects including weight and buying cost were not considered in fixing the compensation, Khalilur Rahman Siddiqui, additional DG (Livestock), said the rates were fixed after proper scrutiny and discussion with the stakeholders.

The government is giving Tk 70 for a layer chicken, Tk 60 for a broiler, Tk 15 for chicks under three months and Tk 3 for an egg.

But the culled chickens were not homogenous -- some were three-month old, some were on production, and some weighed 2.5 to 3 Kg, the farm owners said.

On Thursday, Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Mohammad Mizanur Rahman disbursed cheques worth Tk 853,895.00 among four farms -- Bibi Ayesha (R) Women Training and Production Programme (BAWTP), Bhai Bhai Poultry Farm, Sumon Poultry Farm and Dulal Poultry Farm.

BAWTP Assistant Director Mahabubur Rashid said they imported the layer chicks from Canada and paid Tk 263 for each but the government is giving Tk 70 for each chicken irrespective of their weight.

He said the government should have separate guidelines for compensating the poultry farms and parent farms or hatchery.

"I had to buy the chicks at Tk 42 each," said Bhai Bhai Poultry Farm owner Jasimuddin.

After the chickens got infected with H5N1 virus, Sumon Poultry Farm owner Mohammad Sirajul Islam culled 800 chickens on his own and the authorities culled the remaining 400. But he got Tk 28,000 for the 400 chickens, Sirajul Islam said, adding that all his chickens were 40-week old.

Denying the allegations, additional DG (Livestock) Khalilur Rahman Siddiqui said, "It is impossible to satisfy the owners as they are dependent on these farms."

By now, Tk 75 lakh has been disbursed among the affected farm owners, he said, adding, "We have tried to strike a balance. After consultation with all the stakeholders, we fixed the rates. The rates are higher than those in the neighbouring countries."

On the guidelines for the poultry farm and parent farms, the additional DG said, they are aware of this situation and would formulate the guidelines very soon.

Meanwhile, the hatchery owners have agreed to give the poultry farms one-day old chicks, poultry feeds and medicines for a month free of cost.

"The compensation seems to be poor. However, if we can distribute the one-day old chicks, poultry feeds, medicine and vaccines free of cost, it will be an exemplary act of support and help," Poultry Somonnoy Committee President Moshiur Rahman said.

The Asian Development Bank, USAID and FAO will also provide Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities.