DHAKA, Sept 22, 2021 (BSS) – Speakers at a seminar here today underscored the need for developing agro-based industries in the country by giving emphasis on agriculture as dreamt by Bangabandhu to pave the way for strengthening economy.
“As country’s almost 40.6 percent people directly and indirectly are now being involved in agriculture...so, transforming subsistence agriculture into commercialization is the only way to revitalize economy of the country”, they said.
The speakers including politicians, agronomists, economic analysts, academicians and officials made this comment while addressing the seminar on ‘Dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib: Transformation of an Agrarian Economy’, at NEC conference room at the Planning Ministry here.
Jainul Bari, secretary of the Planning Division, gave the welcome address while Mohammad Mafidul Islam, chief of general planning division under the Planning Commission of the Ministry of Planning, presented the keynote paper at the function.
“Bangabandhu had prioritized rural development and agricultural revolution in the national constitution. In the first five-year plan formulated on July 1, 1973, Bangabandhu gave significant allocations by giving importance on agriculture, development of rural economy and cottage industries,” said Mohammad Mafidul Islam, chief of General Economic Division, Bangladesh Planning Commission in his keynote paper.
Agriculture Ministry Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque spoke at the seminar as the chief guest while Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim and State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam attended the programme as the special guests.
Planning Minister MA Mannan chaired it.
Chairman of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Professor Dr Md Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan and Director General of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Binayak Sen spoke at the seminar as the panel discussants.
After the Independence, Bangabandhu had allocated nearly 24 percent of the total budget outlay for the development of agriculture and rural development, said the keynote paper.
The keynote paper suggested taking forward the agriculture commercialization through increasing local and export market facilities for the growers and taking strategy for accelerating crop diversification to make the economy sustainable.
Even the growth trend of two agriculture subsectors—livestock and fisheries resources—would have to be expedited under the circumstances of climate change vulnerability, the keynote paper added.
Appreciating the present government for taking time befitting initiatives in development of agriculture, Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque said, “We have no other alternative to become self-sufficient in food production as there is no scope to depend others for assistance.”
In line with Bangabandhu’s philosophy of scientific-based agriculture, he said “ now the agricultural production has been raised significantly which was only due to adopting technology in agriculture sector and it will have keep upward.” “we are now stable in politically, so we have to concentrate on economic stability,”he told the seminar.
Regarding the formation of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BaKSAL), Planning Minister MA Mannan said although a group of vested quarters criticized the Baksal, but it was formed for the welfare of the farmers and he had deep thought for the welfare of the workingclass community.
Bagabandhu had taken initiative to modernize the agriculture industrialization and in line with the Bangabandhu’s initiative, the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken vision-2041 to fulfil the programme initiated by Bangabandhu, said state minister for planning Dr Shamsul Alam.
