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Industries, but not bypassing agriculture

Says PM at Krishak League council; AL front gets new president, secretary

Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday reiterated her stance on not allowing industries on arable land, saying that the country's
industrialisation would not come at the cost of its agriculture sector, BSS reports.
"We will definitely go for industrialisation for the country's development, but not by bypassing the agriculture [sector] as development is largely dependent on agriculture. Therefore, no more industries will be allowed on arable land particularly on triple-cropped fields," she said.
She said this during the inauguration of the 10th council of the Krishak League at the Suhrawardy Udyan.
At the council, the Krishak League, an associate body of the ruling Awami League, also named Sameer Chandra its president and Umme Kulsum its general secretary for three years.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced the new leadership at the council meeting at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh.
Sameer and Kulsum were joint general secretaries of the outgoing committee.
Before the announcement, the PM had underscored the need for preserving arable land for the sake of ensuring food security, BSS reports.
"We are going to stop building industries here and there as we have to save arable land for the sake of ensuring food security for the 16 crore people. The demand for food never ends, rather [it] increases with rising population," she said.
The PM simultaneously urged the educated people to engage themselves in agriculture as it was vital for the country and asked the Krishak League leaders and workers to do something to this end.
"Bangladesh is a country largely dependent on agriculture and the farmers are helping us to live by producing crops. So, never belittle the work of farmers..."
Spelling out her government's initiatives for the development of agriculture, she said, "We are doing everything for the development of agriculture and for farmers specially in the haor, char and hilly areas."
Recalling the World Bank's opposition to giving subsidies to the agriculture sector, Hasina said at the time she had questioned whether they could stop giving such price supports in the US and European countries. In this context, Hasina said, "Eighteen farmers were killed by then BNP government as they demanded fertilizer for cultivating land. After assuming power, we lowered fertilizer price by four times to make it affordable for the farmers.
"We have adopted the National Agricultural Policy-2018 and have been working in accordance with the policy for the development of agriculture," she said.
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, spoke on the occasion as the special guest.
Among others, outgoing Bangladesh Krishak League president Motahar Hossain Mollah, general secretary Shamsul Haque Reza and vice president Sharif Ashraf Hossain, also addressed the event.
Hasina inaugurated the council by releasing pigeons and balloons. A minute's silence was observed to show respect to the memories of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders and martyrs of different movements, including the independence movement in 1971. Sameer moderated the function while Sorbo Bharatiya Kishan Sabha (All India Farmers' Council) General Secretary Atul Kumar Anj on spoke as the special guest.
AT THE COUNCIL
At the council session, Obaidul Quader instructed Sameer and Kulsum and outgoing Krishak League president and general secretary to make a draft of the central committee to place before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina within seven days.
Earlier, councillors proposed and seconded 13 names for the post of president and 11 for general secretary of Krishak League.
As no aspirants withdrew their candidacy, Quader with permission from councillors and after consultation with the AL president and Krishak League organisational chief Hasina announced the names of the new president and general secretary.
Outgoing Krishak League President Motahar Hossain Mollah told The Daily Star that they could not place their proposal of bringing in more leaders to all its committees at the council.
"We cannot place the proposal as we did not get enough time. We have many aspirants, so we have to give more time...," he said.
"Now we will forward our proposal to Krishak League organisational chief Sheikh Hasina for amendment to the charter," he said.