Mohammad Masud Majumder:
Minister of Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said that the role of District Administrators is very important in the development of agriculture and fisheries sector as the people have a direct connection with the field administration. He called on the District Administrators to work in a coordinated manner for the development of these sectors.
The minister said this while addressing the session related to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Agriculture and Food at the District Administrators Conference 2026 held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital today as the chief guest.
The minister said that the government is working with the agriculture sector as a top priority and has continued the program of distributing agricultural cards, family cards, loan facilities, incentives and free fertilizers, seeds and pesticides to help farmers as per the election promise. He said that about 75 to 90 percent of the country’s people are directly or indirectly involved in agriculture. Therefore, if the farmer’s economy is strong, the country’s overall economy will also be stronger.
Stressing on increasing domestic fish production, the minister said that domestic fish are on the verge of extinction due to the destruction of natural fish habitats. To address this situation, the government has taken the initiative to establish village-based fish sanctuaries, so that fish production increases naturally and the common man can easily ensure the availability of fish.
Expressing concern over the misuse of pesticides, the minister said that soil fertility and the environment are being damaged due to uncontrolled use. For this reason, emphasis is being placed on the use of modern and environmentally friendly pesticides and necessary steps are being taken to strengthen control in this regard.
He said that the government is working to expand alternative agricultural initiatives including pearl farming and initiatives are being taken to bring it under the ambit of agriculture. He also emphasized on increasing domestic capacity in shrimp fry production; however, if necessary, precautions will be taken considering the risk of bacterial infection in case of import.
In his speech as a special guest, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said that the role of District Commissioners is very important in the overall development and administrative activities of the country. He said that as the main driving force of field administration, District Commissioners play an important role in running the state.
The State Minister said that in the last national elections, the District Commissioners performed their duties with efficiency, honesty and impartiality and presented an acceptable election, which played an important role in gaining the trust of the people.
He said that although there was a time when “Bengalis were known for their fish and rice”, the government is giving importance to fish production. In this context, the government is implementing various programs to develop the fisheries and livestock sector.
Highlighting the initiatives taken to support fishermen, the State Minister said that in addition to the VGF program, adequate food assistance has recently been provided to about 40,000 fishing families for two months, for which about Tk 24 crore has been spent.
The State Minister also said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to move the country forward on the basis of a permanent democratic framework. He urged everyone to fulfill their respective responsibilities with dedication and honesty.
Present as special guests at the event were State Minister for Public Administration and Food Md. Abdul Bari, Agriculture Secretary Dr. Rafiqul E. Mohamed, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md. Delwar Hossain, Food Secretary Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, and others.
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