Hasina for agricultural research to ensure food security

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inspects a Pajero Sports Utility Jeep assembled by state-owned Progoti Industries Ltd after receiving its keys from Industries Minister Dilip Barua at a function at her office in the city yesterday. Photo: PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed the importance of agricultural research to boost food production and thus ensure food security in the country.
“It's the research that can boost the food production and ensure food security for all,” she said when a delegation of Sylhet Agricultural University Teachers' Association, led by its Vice Chancellor Mohammad Shahid Ullah Talukder, met her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters after the meeting.
Hasina said her previous government (1996-2001) had allocated Tk 12 crore for agricultural research while this time Tk 100 crore for the same purpose.
“To ensure food for all in the country, which is the basic right of people, the government is very much active, and has taken numerous measures in this regard,” she added.
She said her government during its previous term (1996-2001) made Bangladesh a food surplus country, but the BNP-Jamaat alliance government again took the country back to the food deficit era after 2001.
The premier said her government has already provided different agricultural inputs to the farmers at lower rates.
Hasina also put emphasis on producing and exporting organic food.
“No land of the country should be left barren,” she said adding that the hills of the country should be preserved and structures should be built there keeping them intact.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Principal Secretary to the prime minister Sheikh Wahid Uz Zaman, and PMO Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman were present on the occasion.
Later, a delegation of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB), led by its President Parveen Mahmud, met the prime minister.
Meanwhile, Industries Minister Dilip Barua at a function handed over the key of a Pajero Sports Utility Jeep assembled by state-owned Progoti Industries Ltd to the prime minister.
Industries Secretary KH Masud Siddiqui, Chairman of Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation M Abu Hafiz, and Director of Progoti ATM Pearul Islam were present.