Bangladesh ranks second in the world in rice production, food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder has said. He added that Bangladesh is now third in the world in fish production and second in vegetable production, and has become self-sufficient in meat and eggs.

The minister spoke as chief guest at the Niamatpur Upazila Parishad auditorium in Naogaon at noon on Wednesday, 16 August, at an event distributing sheep, sheep feed and house-building materials under a development project for small ethnic communities.

At the event, the minister handed out cheques worth Tk 6 lakh to 50 people who had taken part in various training courses of the Department of Women Affairs, and cheques worth Tk 12 lakh 50 thousand to 23 people through the Department of Social Services for treatment of complex illnesses.

The food minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had stressed food production and directed that every inch of land be brought under cultivation. Understanding this, farmers have focused on raising output.

Sadhan Chandra Majumder said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had sounded the call for independence at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan on 7 March. At that call, people united in their thousands under Bangabandhu's leadership, and the desired independence was won. His worthy daughter is working tirelessly for the country, he said, adding that the country develops when Sheikh Hasina is in power.

The minister said the prime minister has emphasised employment. Those who will rear sheep have been given training. If they can rear the sheep well, they will be able to create their own employment through them and will be valued as working members of their families.

The food minister also noted that rural women are improving their finances by taking up income-generating work with sewing machines.

Niamatpur upazila nirbahi officer Imtiaz Morshed presided over the event. Speakers included Niamatpur Upazila Parishad chairman Farid Ahmed, female vice-chairman Nadira Begum, upazila Awami League president Abul Kalam Azad and general secretary Zahid Hasan Biplob, officer-in-charge of the police station Maidul Islam, and upazila livestock officer Dr Yamin Ali. Earlier, the food minister released fish fry into the Upazila Parishad pond.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.