Bangladesh Awami League presidium member and agriculture minister Dr Abdur Razzaque said, "Tarique Rahman, who will run BNP in the absence of Khaleda Zia, is sitting in London enjoying luxury, running a remote control party, and they will not be able to come to power by threatening that remote control." If you want to come, you have to go to people. People have to be partners in sorrow. Moreover, he will not be able to come to power.
The minister made the remarks at an exchange meeting with farmers and journalists after inspecting soybean, maize and sunflower fields at BADC farm in Pankhar Bazar area of Charjabbar Union in Noakhali's Subarnachar upazila on Sunday morning. Later he discussed the agricultural potential of Subarnachar.
The minister further said that the Awami League never conspires behind the scenes and sits in the blue factory and the red factory and conspires through the army. We are based on the people, we are moving forward with the people, we have no regrets if the people reject us and we will leave.
Earlier in the morning, he visited Subarnachar in the morning to improve the living standards of the people, to spread modern agricultural technology and to involve the people of the neglected remote areas in development activities.
Addressing the farmers, the Minister said, "Our scientists have developed high yielding varieties of aus paddy to bring the uncultivated fallow lands of Noakhali under cultivation."
“You will plant these high yielding varieties with short life span immediately after harvesting. BADC is working on the development of seed, fertilizer and irrigation systems to provide the necessary technology and support for cultivation. The Department of Agricultural Extension is working at each union level to extend the varieties to the farmers,” he said.
He further said that in order to make food security sustainable and stronger, lands in char areas, coastal saline areas and adverse hilly areas should be brought under cultivation. No land can be left uncultivated. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government is working tirelessly to bring fallow land under cultivation. All kinds of assistance will be provided to those who will cultivate the fallow land.
The minister also advised the contracted farmers of BADC while inspecting the soybean seed crop fields to increase the cultivation of oil crops soybean, sunflower and mustard in the fallow lands in the char areas.
He said that the cost of production is lower and the profit is higher in oil crops. In this regard, the government of agriculture-friendly Sheikh Hasina will provide all kinds of assistance including necessary seeds, fertilizers, technology and training.
The minister said salinity is one of the major problems in the coastal areas. Cultivable varieties have been developed in saline lands. Yields of pumpkin, bean, watermelon, sunflower, sweet potato and soybean are good in saline areas. Every land in the char area should be brought under cultivation by including it in the cropping pattern of these crops. He said the present government has placed special emphasis on mechanization, modernization and commercialization of agriculture. Moreover, all the fruits and vegetables grown in saline lands are very tasty and nutritious.
He mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu, has attached special importance in this regard. Seed Breeding Farm of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) under the Ministry of Agriculture in Subarnachar, sub-center of Bangladesh Atomic Agriculture Research Institute, Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Its Regional Office, Regional Office of Bangladesh Applied Nutrition Research and Training Institute has been established.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam, BADC Acting Chairman Amirul Islam, Director General of Atomic Agriculture Research Institute Mirza Mofazzal Islam, Director General of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Shahjahan Kabir, Director General of Agriculture Extension Department Rashid Kiran, Deputy Commissioner Dewan Mahbubur Rahman, District Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Shahidul Islam, BADC Subarnachar Project Director Azim Uddin and other officials working in the district were present.
