An unknown disease has killed at least 40 cattle in Kaliganj upazila in the last one week, creating panic among the farmers.

Twenty-two cows and 18 goats were killed by the disease at Pashuram village. Panicked cattle farmers have started selling their cattle at low prices in the local markets.

Farmer Hamidul Islam said the affected cattle first start trembling and then the stomach swells up. An affected cow dies within one and a half hours, while a goat dies within 15 to 20 minutes, he added. “I lost two cows and a goat due to the disease ,” he said, adding that he sold three cows and four goats at low price out of fear of losing those.

Shahjahan Ali said he lost three cows and two goats, adding that he has sent his four cows and six goats to a relative's house in a nearby village.

“My three cows were only my asset, but they died of the disease on Monday night,” said Alamgir Hossain.

Akhtarul Islam said an unknown disease had broken out for the first time in the village in the middle of February in 2015 and at least 12 cattle died then, adding that the disease returned last year at the same time, and at least 23 cattle died. “The disease has come back at the same time, but it is more serious this year,” he said, adding that 40 cattle have already died, and it is continuing.

“We don't know how we will save our cattle from the disease as we are not getting appropriate advice and treatment facilities from livestock officials,” said Maminul Islam. “Livestock officials visited our village but they didn't give any advice on how to save our cattle,” he added.

Livestock Officer Dr ASM Nasir Uddin Khan said, “We have collected samples from the affected cattle and they have been sent to the laboratory in Dhaka. We suspect it could be food poisoning."