RANGPUR, Oct 29, 2019 (BSS) – Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, MP,
has directed field level officials of the Department of Food to work with
utmost dedication and ensure transparency in their activities for upholding
interest of farmers.
“The present government has decided to procure paddy directly from farmers
to ensure fair price,” he said at a divisional level views-sharing meeting
held at conference room of the Deputy Commissioner here tonight as the chief
guest.
Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam presided over the meeting on
“Upcoming Internal Procurement of Aman Paddy-Rice/2019-2020” with all
stakeholders concerned of Rangpur division.
The divisional administration and Rangpur regional controller’s office of
the Department of Food jointly organised the event participated by the
divisional, district and upazila level officials of the administrations,
Department of Food, Department of Agriculture Extension, rice millers and
farmers of Rangpur division.
Director General of the Directorate General of Food Dr. Mosammat Nazmanara
Khanum, Mayor of Rangpur Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, Deputy Inspector General
(DIG) of Rangpur Range Police Devdas Bhattacharya, Rangpur Metropolitan
Police Commissioner Abdul Alim Mahmud, Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan and
Police Super Biplob Kumar Sarkar attended as special guests.
The field level officials concerned, representatives of farmers and rice
millers raised various issues and forwarded suggestions to make the upcoming
Internal Procurement of Aman Paddy-Rice/2019-2020 program a success by
ensuring fair price to farmers.
The Minsiter said letters were sent to the DAE authorities for preparing
list of farmers at grassroots level and immediately send the list to the
ministry before commencement of Aman crop harvest for procuring Aman paddy
directly from farmers.
“The government is trying its best to ensure fair price of paddy to
farmers despite having some limitations for storage,’ he said adding that the
government has decided to establish 200 Paddy Silos across the country,
including in Rangpur division, to achieve the goal.
He directed all officials concerned to understand the woes of farmers for
ensuring transparency in procuring of Aman paddy directly from farmers on way
to turn the Ministry of Food as a completely transparent ministry.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Minister attended a divisional level
workshop on “Creating Public Awareness on Implementation of the Food Safety
Act, 2013” held at conference room of Rangpur Zila Parisahd here as the chief
guest.
The divisional administration and Bangladesh Food Safety Authority jointly
organised the workshop for officials and stakeholders concerned to ensure
food safety in Rangpur division with Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam
in the chair.
Chairman of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Syeda Sarwar Jahan, DIG of
Rangpur Range Police Devdas Bhattacharya, Rangpur Metropolitan Police
Commissioner Abdul Alim Mahmud, Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan, Police
Super Biplob Kumar Sarkar and Acting President of district Awami League
Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed attended as special guests.
Earlier, a huge rally led by Director General of the Directorate General
of Food Dr Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum was brought out on the city streets with
participation of all stakeholders before the workshop.