“Once there were 70 million people in Bangladesh. Even then, many people have passed the day without eating. We had to import rice from abroad. But now we are able to provide full food assistance to all people without importing rice from abroad. Now, Bangladesh has become self-sufficient in food production under the directives of our government,” Food Minister Mr. Sadhan Chandra Majumder said it yesterday.
“As we’ve attained sufficiency in food production, we’re now looking for ways to provide people with more nutritious food,” he added. The minister made the remarks at “Annual Botanical Conference-2019”, organised by Bangladesh Botanical Society. The event was held at Jahangirnagar University campus on Saturday.
Food Minister Mr. Sadhan Chandra Majumder inaugurated the daylong conference as chief guest at the seminar room of Zahir Raihan auditorium on the campus around 9.30 am while JU Vice Chancellor Prof. Farzana Islam was present as special guest.
Addressing the inaugural session, Food Minister Mr. Sadhan Chandra Majumder said, “Sustainable development of the country and conservation of natural resources are intimately involved. Natural resources and its successful sustainable use is the main driving force of the country's socio-economic development. So natural resource has to be utilized for the welfare of the nation by the invention of new sustainable technology.”
“If farmers failed to grow the crops according to their demand, then their interest is reduced. But now with the cooperation of the Government of Bangladesh and research of plant scientists, farmers are becoming interested in cultivating all kinds of crops. Because of the botanists, the country's farmers are so successful. Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always strives to develop and remove corruption from every sector in the country. Now the government is working to provide nutritious and safe food to people. Our government is concerned about food safety and ensuring nutritious food supply to all, as it is necessary for a sustainable development. The government is taking measures to introduce fortified rice in local markets soon,” the minister added.
JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Farzana Islam said, “The important contribution of nature is the plant. Our survival is closely linked with the proliferation of these natural resources. We depend on products indirectly and indirectly to meet the basic needs of all human beings, including food, clothing, habitat, education, medicine, and the existence of the world. Many valuable natural resources are being lost or extinct to meet the needs of the growing population and unplanned urbanization. We need to be more aware of this. We should plant trees in a planned way so that they do not have to be cut down in the future. In the last six years, we have planted over 5,000 trees in the university.”
Chaired by the president of Bangladesh Botanical Society, Prof. Dr. M. Abdul Gafur, Pro-VC (Administration) Prof. Dr. Amir Hussain, Pro-VC (Education) Prof. Dr. Nurul Alam, Treasurer Prof. Sheikh Md. Monzurul Huq and Ex- Chairman of Bangladesh Public Service Commission, Prof. Dr. Z. N. Tahmida Begum were present at the conference as special guests among others.
