1 crore people to be given food aid during Ramadan: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, 'During Ramadan we will give food assistance to about one crore people, we have taken that decision. Our goal is to ensure that the people of the country never suffer from food. '

Referring to various support programs of the government for poor people, the head of government said, 'You know that we are giving 30 kg of rice to the poor people in our country every month. We are mixing nutritional rice with this rice so that they don't get nutritional deficiency. '

Sheikh Hasina said, 'During the time of Corona virus, we have given cash assistance. As a result of Ukraine-Russia war, sanctions, counter-sanctions, inflation increased worldwide, we distributed TCB cards to about 1 crore people to give rice at Tk 30 per kg to ensure food security of our people. Even lower class people can buy rice for 15 taka per kg. '

Emphasizing on the involvement of students in agriculture from school life, the Prime Minister said, 'We need to involve our youth more in agriculture. I think school life needs to be involved. Working in the field, growing crops is a matter of great pride, not shame. So that's how we should build the people of our country. '

Sheikh Hasina commented that the mentality of educated youth has changed about agriculture and said, 'I am really very happy today. Many children do not want to study and go to the field, even the farmer father was ashamed to say so. But today that shame is no more, we have broken that shame. '

He said, 'There is no shame in doing what we live by eating. Proud to do that. So changing the mentality is absolutely necessary. I believe that has changed a lot today. '

(Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself has set an example by cultivating different types of rice, mustard, honey, almost all kinds of vegetables, fruits, poultry, pigeons, cows, fish in her official residence Ganabhaban.)

Calling for increasing research in various fields including agriculture, the Prime Minister said, 'I always think that excellence can never be achieved without research. And being an agricultural country, we have given more importance to research. Besides, we have emphasized on health, education, science and research. '

He said, 'One thing to remember is that due to geographical location, we are always hit by climate change. That is why research should always be continued and our crops should be produced accordingly. Bangladesh has set an example in producing not only rice, but also curries and fruits with rice. '

Highlighting the government's various steps in agricultural mechanization, the Prime Minister said, 'After independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu always spoke about agricultural mechanization and took measures. Today we are making significant progress in that regard. Already we are giving special allocation, subsidy for mechanization, about 70 per cent subsidy in coastal areas and 50 per cent subsidy in other areas. '

Referring to the various steps taken to create skilled human resources for the fourth industrial revolution, Sheikh Hasina said, 'We are going to enter the era of the fourth industrial revolution. That is why we have already taken steps to create skilled manpower. New technology is being invented in the world, we also have to invent new technology in keeping with it. '

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 'Bangabandhu-Pierre Trudeau Agricultural Technology Center' at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute in Gazipur.

After the inauguration, he toured the various innovations of the Bangabandhu-Pierre Trudeau Agricultural Technology Centre.

Dr. Agriculture Minister presided over the event. Abdur Razzaq.

Among others, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Wahida Akhtar, Director General of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Jain Balii, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Bakhtiar, Executive Director of Canada's Global Institute of Food Security (CEU). Stevin Webb, Director General of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. Shah Jahan Kabir.

Minister of Liberation War Affairs AKM Mozammel Haque, Minister of State for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell were present among others.