Monwar Kabir, owner of Fida-Fima Poultry Farm in Chalkpara area of the city, said, "We need at least congenial atmosphere to run our business smoothly and successfully."

There is an enormous scope of furthermore promoting the sector, he added.

While talking to the news agency, he mentioned existence of poultry industry is very important for supplying proteins to the community regularly. Its role is also vital to generate employment and poverty eradication, according to The Daily Star.

Mr Kabir produces around 4,500 eggs per day on an average in his 6,000-bird farm currently. He started his business with 700 birds in 2004 with an initial investment of around Tk 4 lakh elevating his business capital to Tk 70 lakh at present. Seven day-labourers including two females are working there.

He says the production cost for each of the eggs is around Tk 5 whereas its wholesale price is hardly Tk 4.30 in local markets. On the contrary, he said the consumers in general have to purchase an egg at Tk 6 to Tk 8 in retail markets.

Mr Kabir terms the problem artificial and manmade and demanded rational reduction of price-gap between wholesale and retail.

"I have compelled to reduce the number of birds to 4,000 from 10,000 to minimise the gradually declining operating cost to some extent," said Arifuz Zaman, owner of Asif Poultry Farm at Kamlapur under Godagari upazila.

Tyranny of mid-level opportunists and all sorts of monopoly businesses centring the poultry sector must be stopped to save the marginal farmers, he suggested.

Nadim Hossain, owner of Tanaka Agro Limited at Kapasia under Paba upazila, drew the government's attention and intervention to protect the sector.

"Basically, we have no hands on markets as it's totally controlled by all the persons concerned," said Dr Zulfikar Md Aktar Hossain, additional district livestock officer.

"We along with around 43,000 workers are facing an embarrassing situation due to the exorbitant price of poultry feed, medicines and chicks in one hand and lower price of eggs and birds on the other hand," said Masudul Haque Nilu, district unit president of the Poultry Owners Association.