DHAKA, Feb 18, 2026 (BSS) – Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher and State Minister Ahammad Sohel Manjur today exchanged views with officials of the ministry and its subordinate departments and organisations. The meeting was held at the ministry’s conference room at the Secretariat, said a press release issued here. Secretary of the ministry Md. Nazrul Islam and other officials welcomed the newly appointed minister and state minister. Information on the mission, vision, manpower and scope of work of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works was presented to the ministers at the meeting. The ministers were also briefed on the ministry’s future plans to implement the BNP’s Election Manifesto 2026 and its ongoing development activities. At the meeting, the minister and state minister said they would work within the framework of the law to fulfil the expectations of the people with the cooperation of all concerned. Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department Md. Khalequzzaman Chowdhury, Chairman of the National Housing Authority Most. Ferdousi Begum, Additional Secretaries Abdul Matin and Md. Sarwar Alam, and Chief Architect Md. Asifur Rahman Bhuiyan, among others, were present.  

DINAJPUR, Feb 18, 2026 (BSS) - Birganj upazila of the district has achieved a  significant milestone in agricultural innovation with the successful  cultivation of button mushrooms using indigenous technology. The breakthrough was made through a joint initiative of the Protina Research  Foundation and Bahari Agrotech. For the first time in the country, button  mushrooms have been successfully produced from locally prepared seeds in a  natural cool environment, marking a major step toward reducing import  dependence. The development was announced by Masuda Islam, chairman of Protina Research  Foundation, at a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon at his farm in  Dakshin Nijpara village under Birganj upazila. Speaking at the event, Masuda Islam said the foundation undertook laboratory- based initiatives to develop button mushroom seeds (spawn) using domestic  technology. "We first focused on preparing quality mushroom seeds in our own laboratory.  Later, we achieved success in small-scale button mushroom cultivation through  compost-based methods," she added. She also described the various challenges and obstacles faced during  different stages of research and production, emphasizing that the success  came after overcoming significant technical and environmental hurdles. Professor Dr AK Obaidul Haque of the Food Technology and Nutrition Department  at Maulana Bhashani Science and Technology University highlighted the  nutritional importance of mushrooms during the press conference. He stated that every 100 grams of raw mushrooms contains approximately 2.75  grams of protein, 2.5 grams of carbohydrates (sugar), 0.5 grams of fat and  significant amounts of vitamin B-complex and essential minerals. According to him, regular consumption of mushrooms supports body growth,  strengthens immunity, and helps in disease prevention. Mushrooms play  effective roles as anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-hypertensive, and anti- inflammatory foods, he added. Engineer Md. Habibur Rahman, partner of Bahari Agrotech, said that Bangladesh  imports button mushrooms and mushroom seeds annually from countries including  India and Thailand, spending more than Taka 100 crore. He expressed optimism that domestic production using local raw materials  could meet national demand and create opportunities for export to  international markets. Several researchers and partners, including Engineer Md. Fahim Rahman, Md.  Salauddin, Md. Mim Islam, Md. Jim Islam, and Akhter Kabir Kanon, were present  at the conference. The success in Birganj is being viewed as a promising development for  Bangladesh's agricultural sector, potentially opening new avenues for  sustainable farming, nutritional security, and export earnings.