Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque on Sunday urged the people of the country to change their food habit gradually and eat other nutritious food and fruits reducing rice intake. "Per-capita rice consumption in Bangladesh is 400 grams daily which is the highest in the world, in many countries people’s average rice consumption is only 200 grams daily, " he said. Read: Agro revolution to be seen in saline areas: Dr Razzaque The minister came up with the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a function titled ‘Bangladesh's 50 years: Achievements and Diversifications in agriculture’. Bangladesh Agriculture Journalist Forum (BAJF) and Bangla Daily Bonik Barta jointly organised the program at a city hotel marking 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence. Dr Md Shajahan Kabir, DG of Bangladesh Rice Research Institution (BRRI), presented the keynote paper on ‘Rice based agriculture transformation in Bangladesh: research and policy nexus.’ He mentioned in the presentation that so far around 137 varieties of rice have been developed by BRRI which helped to the country become self-reliant in food production. He also said one taka investment in agriculture research brings 51 times higher return. Read: Dr Razzaque urges large companies to invest in agro-processing sector FAO representative in Bangladesh Robert D. Simpson, USAID mission director Kathryn David Steven also spoke at the function as special guests. President of BAJF Iftekhar Mahmud presided over the function while Editor of Bonik Barta Dewan Hanif Mahmud moderated it.

Though the Covid-19 pandemic looks to have become under control in Bangladesh with the weather getting warmer, experts think there is no room for complacency as this deadly virus may remerge any time with any new strain.

Renowned scientist and Fellow of Royal Society Sir Walter Bodmer on Wednesday said unhealthy food habit is one of the key reasons behind cancer diseases followed by genetic marital relationship.