Agriculture Minister
'No way' BNP can topple govt through movement: Agriculture Minister
BNP will not be able to topple the government through unconstitutional methods like movement and threat, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said on Monday.
“There is no way to bring down the current government through unconstitutional way and the government will be changed through election as the next election will be free, fair and neutral. The government will provide all assistance to the Election commission. So if BNP wants to bring down the government they have to participate in the election, he said.
The minister revealed this information while talking to reporters after attending a programme, marking World Soil Day, in the city’s Khamarbari area.
Read: Don’t trust people who mislead, spread rumours: PM
“BNP can’t do anything by holding their December 10 rally and if they do any excess they will be cleaned like Hefazat. Country’s stability will be maintained at any cost,” he said.
Referring to the soil of the country, the minister urged the scientists to play a strong role in sustainable soil management.
He also urged the authorities concerned of the universities to take the students to the field and teach them practically.
Diplomats’ interference in country’s internal affairs not acceptable: Agri minister
It is not acceptable that the diplomats posted in Bangladesh will interfere in the country’s internal affairs including election, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said on Wednesday.
“They will be warned. Bangladesh is a sovereign state. It will never bow down to anyone. We must maintain its dignity,” he said while responding to questions from reporters at an event at Mujibnagar Amrakanan, a memorial of the great liberation war, in Meherpur.
His remarks came following Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki’s recent remakes about election in the country.
Read more: It’s my strong hope to see free, fair election in Bangladesh: Ambassador Naoki
On Monday, Japanese envoy Naoki said he heard about the example of “ballot box stuffing” and some police stuffed the ballot box the previous night which is something he did never hear in any other country.
Razzaque said a free and fair election will be held in Bangladesh in the future which will be acceptable to the whole world.
Article 126 of the Constitution clearly states that the election will be conducted by the Election Commission assisted by Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of police and all branches of the government, he added.
Read more: Election Bangladesh’s own issue, not foreigners’ concern: Turkish Ambassador
Regarding BNP’s movement, he said BNP had waged movement in 2013 and 2014 over election issue. “ They can wage movement if they want, we have come to this stage after dealing with those movements. We will deal with their movement politically in the future as well.”
Govt aiming to become self-sufficient in onions: Agriculture Minister
The government is emphasizing cultivation of onions during summer or the off season for onion self-sufficiency, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said on Tuesday.
During the peak onion season, the country cultivates enough onions, but due to lack of storage technology, many onions get rotten, the minister said at the Aman paddy harvesting festival and Liberation War memorial centre inauguration in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga.
“For this, we have to import onions to meet the demand,” he added.
The Agriculture Ministry is implementing a roadmap to reduce onion import dependency. And the production of onion has increased by 10 lakh tonnes in the last two years, said Razzaque.
Read more: Bangladesh to export onions in 2-3 years: Agricultural Minister
“We also focus on off season or summer onion cultivation. It has many possibilities.”
Self-sufficiency can be achieved through summer onion cultivation, said the minister.
He also said farmers are being provided all the support including seeds, fertilisers and technology in this regard.
Besides, the country has enough food in stock. There will be no crisis of food in Bangladesh, and no famine if no major natural disaster occurs, he said, expecting bumper yield of Aman paddy in the upcoming season.
Read more: Instability in onion price as import declines through Hili land port
“The current government is working tirelessly to make agriculture profitable. Instead of cultivating only paddy and jute, high value crops and fruits should be cultivated, only then agriculture will be profitable.”
Regarding imports of agricultural machinery, Razzaque said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working on agricultural mechanisation. The implementation of the project of Tk 3000 crore is underway.”
He also urged the country’s industrialists to come forward and invest in producing agricultural machinery. “Then import dependency on agricultural machinery will be reduced,” he added.
Agriculture minister writes to other ministers to use fallow lands for cultivation
Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque has sent demi official (DO) letters to some other ministers to cultivate unused lands of sugar, jute, textile mills and railways to mitigate any possible food crisis.
The minister sent the letter to the ministers for Industries, Textiles and Jute and Railways recently, according to a press release.
In the letters, Abdur Razzaque requested all seeking personal initiative of the ministers mentioning the opportunity of cultivating food grains, vegetables, pulse and, oil seeds in unused lands owned by different government agencies to fight the food crisis in light of global adversities.
He said the initiative can boost the country’s food production and concerned upazila Agricultural Officers of the Agricultural Extension Department will provide necessary assistance in this regard.
Read more: Global food import costs near record $2 trillion, hurting poorest
The letters said global food production and distribution are facing a challenge due to the Russia-Ukraine war and Covid-19.
Along with that price hike of essential materials for food production like fertilizers and fuel have created a fear of food crisis, it said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed to increase the food production and to leave no fallow lands unused to ensure food security, which the Ministry of Agriculture is trying to implement, said Razzaque.
Strengthening law a must to ensure tobacco-free Bangladesh: Minister
Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Wednesday said it is necessary to strengthen the tobacco control law to achieve the goal of a tobacco-free Bangladesh.
He also said the initiative to fortify the tobacco control law to curb tobacco use is a timely one.
The minister came up with the comments during a meeting with a delegation from research and advocacy organization PROGGA and ATMA (Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance) at the Secretariat, said a press release.
Read: Fallow lands to be brought under cultivation: Agriculture Minister
The meeting was organised to inform the minister about the progress made by the Health Ministry in amending the tobacco control law and the potential role that the Agriculture Ministry can play in the process.
Dr Abdur Razzaque said his ministry has full support for the Health Ministry's proposals for tobacco control law amendment.
The delegation of PROGGA and ATMA informed the minister that currently the prevalence of tobacco use stands at 35.3 percent (37.8 million) of the adult population (15 y/o and above).
They said the tobacco-induced deaths and diseases cost the economy dearly since the financial toll is much higher than the revenue generated from tobacco sector.
Read: No famine risk in Bangladesh right now: Agriculture Minister
Realizing the extent of tobacco’s devastation, the Prime Minister voiced her commitment to build a tobacco-free country by 2040 and accordingly provided the directive to bring time-fitting changes to the tobacco control law, they observed.
Following clear directive from the PM, the Health Ministry took the initiative to amend the law.
No need to import eggs: Agriculture Minister
All ministries should strengthen monitoring to control the egg market, Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said today.
“Importing eggs will increase our dependence which we do not want. There is no need to import eggs,” Razzaque said while talking to reporters after inaugurating a workshop on Central Research Review and Program Formulation at the auditorium of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur.
Read: Price of eggs to come down soon: Agriculture Minister
Some unscrupulous hatchery owners are involved in hiking egg prices in the local market, with the excuse of gap in demand and supply, he said.
The technical session of the workshop will be held from October 13-19.
According to the BARI, the authorities concerned are conducting research on 211 crops at the institute and already 1,237 technologies including 625 high yielding variety ones have been devised, which helped to boost production of the crops.
Read: NDCRP fines 3 wholesalers for manipulating egg price
Food manipulators won’t be spared: Razzaque
Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque has said that those who create artificial food crisis must be brought under the law.
The minister was talking to journalists before inaugurating a training workshop on the best use of high-yielding seeds at Mymensingh Town Hall on Monday.
He said that in the market economy the government should not set the prices of goods. He, however, said food shortage and spiraling prices have no relation with fixed price.
“In a market economy, fixed rates of goods can’t be implemented. Instead, an indicator of minimum prices can be provided. Monitoring and controlling the market are the keys here. Those who engage in profiteering by suddenly increasing the prices of essentials have to be punished and their trade licenses have to be cancelled,” Razzaque said.
The minister added that the concerned ministries, including the Commerce Ministry, the Food Ministry, the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry, must cooperate and coordinate to keep food prices in check.
Read: No food shortage in country: Agriculture Minister
Replying to another question, Razzaque said that the government is on the right track in tackling food crisis.
“There hasn’t been any food crisis in the country in the last 13 years. Even, the government has ensured food security amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. We’re currently focusing on increasing food production so that we may not have to face any adverse situation in the future,” Razzaque said.
The workshop was presided over by Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam. Ikramul Haque Titu, Mayor of Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC), Kazim Uddin Ahmed, Member of Parliament (MP) from Mymensingh-11 constituency, and Anwarul Abedin Khan, MP from Mymensingh-9 constituency, among others, spoke at the event.
Govt considering diesel subsidy for Boro farmers: Agriculture Minister
Agricultural Minister Md Abdur Razzaque said government is sincerely considering providing subsidy in Diesel priceto farmers during Boro season .
The minister said this while attending a workshop titled “Sustainable Management of Underground Water for Food Security,” at city’s BRAC centre on Thursday.
“We will need to do something to reduce farmer’s production cost even if the Russia-Ukraine war doesn’t end and internationally diesel price doesn’t come down,” said Abdur Razzaque.
Also read: Incessant rains in Kurigram force Boro farmers to go for early harvesting
As per the current high price the production will rise in this Boro season, he said. “Subsidies will be needed to be provided in Diesel like in fertilizers and it’s under government’s consideration,” said the minister.
The minister said due to lack of rain Aman plantation is being hindered which is concerning.
“If rainfall remains low Aman production will fall and it will also effect Boro production as farmers invest in it from the profit of Aman season” said Abdur Razzaque.
“We don’t want to dependent on others for food as during instability in international market even after having dollars we cannot ensure availability of food products,” he added.
Also read: Labour crisis worries Boro farmers in Jashore
Emphasizing on sustainable irrigation system the minister said, “On the one hand, the government is working on to increase the use of surface water for irrigation, on the other hand, the irrigation efficiency is being increased by using buried pipes (underground pipes).”
No foreign power can influence Bangladesh general elections: Razzaque
Agriculture Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque said on Thursday that no matter how powerful the US ambassador or people like him are, they won’t be able to play any role in the next national elections of Bangladesh.
Razzaque was talking to journalists after a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) meeting at the ministry’s conference room at the Secretariat.
Replying to a question, the minister said that foreigners are the country's development partners. The entire world is a global village. Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has also the right to hold discussions with them.
Read: US wants fair elections in Bangladesh:Envoy
“The international community wants our elections to be free and fair. We’ve appointed a new Election Commissioner in this regard. Elections are held under an Election Commission in most of the developed countries. They don’t form any caretaker government during election times. BNP is consistently talking about the formation of a caretaker government, which will never happen,” said Razzaque.
He added that the next general elections will be held according to the current constitution, where there is no mention of a caretaker government.
Razzaque also said that they will welcome any opinion or advice from the international community regarding the next elections.
“BNP is holding discussions with representatives of various states over the last few days. I want to say to BNP that go to the people instead, who will elect their next leaders. It’s the people who have the real power, not the foreigners,” added Razzaque.
Flood damages Aush paddy on 56,000 hectares of land
Aush paddy on about 56,000 hectares of land in the country has been damaged by the ongoing flood triggered by incessant showers, said Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Tuesday.
“If the floods do not last long, it is possible to recoup the losses caused so far. That’s why extensive preparations have already been taken,” he told reporters after a meeting with Maldives High Commissioner Shiruzimath Sameer at the Secretariat.
Also read:Flood won’t create food crisis: Minister
Razzaque said Aush paddy on 22,000 hectares of land in Sunamganj and Sylhet were damaged by floodwater. Flood has slumbered different areas in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Moulvibazar districts.
Besides, vegetables, sesame, nuts etc. have been damaged, he added.