Make Bangladesh agri-product exporting country: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina poses for photograph with the recipients of Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award -1417 at a function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital yesterday. Photo: PMO
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged those involved in agriculture to concentrate more on making Bangladesh an agricultural product exporting country instead of an import-based one. “Let your activities be aimed at making the country as export-oriented one, rather than letting it remain an import-based one,” she said while distributing the Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Padak-1417 (Bangabandhu national agriculture award -1417) at a function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. Hasina noted that there is an ample opportunity for Bangladesh to grab the international market by exporting agricultural and protein products. “We've to pay attention to the food-processing industries in this regard alongside agricultural production,” she said. To ensure food security, the prime minister said the government has already talked to some developed countries, including Japan, to build food-grain storage facilities equipped with modern technology. “When we'll have bumper production, we can store-food grains (in such godowns) for the next 2-3 years…this will ensure our food security.” Stressing on making the country self-reliant, she said when the government takes money from donors they give some advices to follow. Hasina recalled that during the previous tenure (1996-2001) of her government, the donors had directed to stop subsidy to the agriculture sector to avail of funds from them. “At that time, I firmly opposed their advice and reject their funds. We've to provide subsidy to the farmers or the agriculture sector,” she said adding that this is the prerequisite to making the country self-sufficient in food production. In this regard, she said the BNP-Jammat government had always wanted to make Bangladesh a food-deficit one to avail of aid from donors. “They always wanted to make the country a nation of beggars to get funds from donors.” The prime minister mentioned that the present government from the very beginning had put in all efforts to make the country a self-respected nation. Terming the present government agriculture-friendly, she listed some steps taken by her government to develop the agriculture sector of the country. She said when the Awami League came to power in 1996, the country at that time had food grains deficit of 40 lakh metric tonnes. “We made up the deficit and even improved the position with 26 lakh metric tonnes of food surplus in 2001.” Hasina said in 2009, when the Awami League-led grand alliance formed the government, it was found that the country again had a food grains deficit of 30 lakh metric tonnes. “We've already taken various steps to ensure food security of people and we intend to do many more things in the future for their welfare,” she said, recalling that the Awami League in its election manifesto had mentioned that by 2013 the country will be made self-reliant in food grains production. About power crisis, the PM alleged that during the past seven years of BNP-Jamaat rule and the caretaker government not a single megawatt of electricity was produced. She said in 1996 when the AL formed the government they found that only 1,600MW of electricity was produced in the country. “We made it 4,300 MW during our tenure. But in 2009, when we again came to power, we found that the power production was only 3,200 MW.” Hasina mentioned that both the BNP-Jamaat regime and the caretaker government did not give minimum attention to electricity production during the seven years (2001-2008). She said the economy of Bangladesh depends on the development of agriculture sector. The food security of a huge population in the country and improvement of their living standard and creation of employment opportunity for them are directly and indirectly related to agriculture. The prime minister said her government, soon after assuming office in 2009, reduced the prices of all non-urea fertiliser on three occasions. Now TSP fertiliser is being sold at Tk 22 per kg while MOP at Tk 15 and DAP at Tk 28 per kg. Besides, she said farmers are now getting fertilisers without any hassle as the government has appointed 28,000 retailers for selling fertiliser across the country. Chaired by Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, the function was addressed, among others, by Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas, and Environment and Forests Minister Dr Hassan Mahmud. Earlier, the prime minister distributed Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award -1417 among 28 recipients. Of the award recipients, four individuals and organisations each received a gold medal weighing 25 grams and Tk 25,000 along with a certificate. Seven individuals and organisations each received a silver medal weighing 25 grams and Tk 15,000 along with a certificate while 17 individuals and organisations each got a bronze medal and Tk 7,500 along with a certificate.
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