Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, referring to the background of the 1974 famine and the killings of 15 August, has said that some people are still making that same attempt.

She said this on Saturday (15 June) at Ganabhaban, opening the three-month Tree Plantation 2024 programme organised by Krishak League.

Sheikh Hasina said: "We will move towards industrialisation by improving the agricultural economy. That is why we have set up 100 economic zones. Beyond those, industry cannot be built by destroying land here and there. Our population is growing, and we must increase crop production. We will produce our own crops so that we do not have to hold out our hands to anyone. We have a very bitter experience from '74. Even food bought with cash was not allowed to come in. A famine was artificially created there, to separate Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib from the people by any means. When that did not succeed either, they carried out 15 August. Some people are still making that attempt."

On farm subsidies, she said: "We have cut fertiliser prices. We are still giving huge subsidies. Since it concerns the people's food needs, we are never stingy there; we always give subsidies in the budget." Before coming to power in 1996, she said, an organisation — the one "thanks to which we built the Padma Bridge", meaning those who had obstructed it — had objected. "I told them, if you don't give it, nothing will happen. I will give it with our own money. If I form the government, I will subsidise agriculture with our own money and give farmers every kind of help."

Stressing the importance of planting trees, she said Bangladesh does not harm the climate but suffers from climate impacts. "Trees are our life; they give us breath. Fruit and medicinal trees have many benefits, so trees must be planted. Plant trees on river banks, along the coast and around homes, but crop land must not be destroyed. In towns you can plant small trees on rooftops." Green belts should be created in coastal areas, trees planted artificially, and mangrove forests grown to protect people from cyclones and other natural disasters, she said.

The prime minister also directed everyone to make sure that people did not dirty places by sacrificing animals just anywhere.

"We have kept every promise we made so far. Now we have planned so that life in this delta improves, and it can be revised and added to over time," she said.

Advising on protecting soil quality, the head of government said that growing the same crop again and again ruins the soil, and growing another crop in between lets the soil regain its nutrients. "For example, we grow rice again and again; if we can grow something else in between, soil nutrition will increase."

"There is so much trouble over onions. Why don't we produce them? We supply 40 per cent, and this will rise further. Women farmers earn a lot of money growing onions. Maize was not grown either; we are growing that too. Vegetables used to be available only in winter, but through research we have now developed year-round vegetable varieties, and we are getting the results," Sheikh Hasina said.

Bangladesh's economy is agriculture-based, she said. After independence, the Father of the Nation called for a green revolution and gave agriculture the highest priority.

"It is our misfortune that those who came to power by killing the Father of the Nation on 15 August and violating the constitution — the illegal usurpers — not only played with people's fate but also destroyed the country's democratic course. Today they talk about the right to vote. It makes me laugh when I see the BNP talking about votes and elections. Ziaur Rahman seized power illegally and took away the people's right to vote. His yes/no vote began to legitimise illegal power. Later, sitting on the throne of power, he formed a party. Following in his footsteps, Ershad also played with the people's right to vote," she said.

The event was chaired by Krishak League president agriculturist Samir Chanda. Krishak League acting general secretary Biswanath Sarkar Bitu, cabinet members, Awami League leaders, senior government officials and Krishak League leaders attended.

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