DHAKA, March 22 (Reuters) - Bangladesh said on Thursday the H5N1 bird flu virus had been detected in poultry near the capital Dhaka.

"Avian influenza virus has been detected in a poultry firm in Savar, 25 km from Dhaka," the information ministry said in a statement late on Thursday.

"A special meeting of the (government's) council of advisers was held today with chief adviser of the interim government Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair," it said.

"The council was informed by the health, agriculture and livestock advisers that samples from the Savar poultry tested in the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute and the National Institute of Animal Health in Bangkok showed the existence of the H5N1 virus."

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