Fisheries, Livestock, and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid addressed a discussion meeting as the chief guest at the Cumilla Shilpakala Academy. Photo: PID

CUMILLA, Sept 1, 2026 (BSS) – Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid today said that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman was the only president who declared independence and took part in the Liberation War (LW) with arms in hand.

“Ziaur Rahman’s sense of responsibility towards the people, honesty and simple lifestyle should be followed by political workers,” he said, urging BNP leaders and activists to be inspired by the ideals of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and work for the welfare of the country and its people.

The minister made the remarks while addressing a discussion meeting, organized by the Cumilla city unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), as the chief guest at the Cumilla Shilpakala Academy on the occasion of the founding anniversary of BNP.

Noting that people are the supreme power in a democratic state, Aminur said BNP formed the government through the direct votes of the people. 

He said no government in history could retain power over the people permanently, adding that many powerful rulers and governments have also left power over time.
 
Therefore, the people are the main strength of democracy and the people are the true source of state power, the minister added.

“Around 75 percent of the country’s people are directly or indirectly involved with agriculture and farming. Therefore, the government believes that ensuring the economic development of farmers will ensure the overall economic development of the country. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman believes in this,” he said. 

Aminur added: “We firmly believe that sustainable development of the country is not possible without the development of farmers.”

He said the government is ready to do whatever is necessary for the development of agriculture and improvement of farmers’ living standards. 

The development of the agricultural sector of the country is one of the major priorities of the BNP’s election pledges, the minister said, adding, the government is implementing initiatives one after another, including waiving farmers’ loans, providing necessary assistance for farming and ensuring the overall welfare of farmers.

Aminur said there was a time when the country had to import agricultural products.
 
“Now, dependence on imports has declined at least in the case of onions. The new generation will no longer have to import onions in the future; rather, we will think about exporting onions,” he said, adding, similarly, the government plans to reduce imports of some other agricultural products in the future and export them.

Cumilla City BNP President and Cumilla Development Authority (CuDA) Chairman Udbatul Bari Abu presided over the discussion while Cumilla City BNP General Secretary and Cumilla City Corporation Administration Md Yousuf Mollah moderated it.

Among others, BNP Cumilla Divisional Organizing Secretary Professor Md Salim Bhuiyan, Joint Organizing Secretary and Cumilla Zilla Parishad Administrator Mostak Mia, Cumilla City BNP Organizing Secretary Raziur Rahman Rajib, and leaders of the BNP and its affiliated and associate organizations spoke at the meeting.