Abdul Bari, state minister for the Ministries of Public Administration and Food, has said that potato farming suffered heavy losses this year only because the drainage system was not in order. If the canals had been working, farmers would not have suffered so much. The government is working to rehabilitate the affected farmers and has planned to secure fair prices by using surplus potatoes at home and abroad.

He was speaking at midday on Friday, 3 April, while opening the digging of the "Kanmuna Harabati" canal at Bairagi Hat in Kalai, Joypurhat.

The state minister said the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is giving the highest priority to canal digging and better drainage, to improve farmers' lot and keep the rural economy moving. Poor drainage often causes heavy losses to farmers' crops, and the government is taking effective steps to prevent this.

Noting that the supply of fuel oil in the country remains normal despite turmoil in world markets, Abdul Bari said the government is doing its utmost to keep oil prices under control. However, some dishonest syndicates are trying to create an artificial crisis by hoarding oil illegally.

Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's welfare programmes, he said the prime minister is giving priority to every issue. "From the family card and the farmer card to the development of mosques and religious institutions and the tree-planting programme, everything is for people's welfare. Our government is working for the good of all, regardless of religion, caste, party or opinion."

Present were Deputy Commissioner Al-Mamun Mia, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shamim Ara, Upazila Agriculture Officer Harun Or Rashid, Kalai police station officer-in-charge (OC) Rafiqul Islam, upazila BNP convener Ibrahim Hossain, and leaders and activists of the upazila and municipal BNP.

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