DHAKA, Sept 18, 2023 (BSS) - Agriculture Minister and Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Dr Md Abdur Razzaque today urged the BNP leaders to participate in the upcoming elections coming out of the wrong politics.
 
"You (BNP) could not oust the government by waging movements, agitations, demonstrations, blockades and sit-in programmes . . . You will fall into deep depression being failed in the field again. It's my humble request, please join polls coming out of the wrong path," he said.
 
The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled 'Agricultural Revolution and impact of climate change' at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium in the city, said a press release.
 
Bangladesh Climate Change Journalists' Forum (BCCJF) and IDEB jointly organized the seminar with IDEB acting President Engineer Md Fazlur Rahman Khan in the chair.
 
"I came to know a while ago that BNP will continue various political programmes every day for the next 15 days. They are also threatening that they will take a position in Dhaka city and isolate the capital from the rest of the country," he said, adding," You could not succeed in movement in the last 14 years and you will not be able to succeed even in the next one and a half months as well."
 
Urging BNP to join the next parliament polls, the AL leader said, "We want to have a strong opposition party in Bangladesh. It is important for the accountability of any country's government".
 
Noting that Bangladesh's development, which took place during the present government's tenure, has been lauded across the globe and Bangladesh is being termed as a model for development, Razzaque said, "We, as well as the whole nation, want to continue this development spree".
 
The country witnessed great success in agricultural production under the present government, he said, adding that the government is giving the highest priority to agriculture and this sector will play a vital role in the overall development of the nation.
 
Terming climate change as a new challenge, the minister urged scientists to invent new technologies to tackle climate change.
 
Speaking at the seminar, former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman said farmers are the main driving force of changing the country and agriculture is the safeguard of Bangladesh.
 
"Agriculture is playing a role in realizing our dream of building a developed Bangladesh. Inflation would have been much higher today if agriculture had not a success," he added.
 
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Director General Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir presented the keynote paper in the seminar while BCCJF President Kawser Rahman conducted it.
 
BCCJF General Secretary Motahar Hossain delivered welcome address at the event, addressed by, among others, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Director General Md Tajul islam Patwary, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) Director M Ekramul Haque, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) agriculture expert Moin-Us-Salam, Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management Project Director Khondker Md Rashed Iftekhar and Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters' Forum General secretary Masudul Haque.
 
IDEB General Secretary Md Shamsur Rahman gave the vote of thanks at the seminar.