The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Mithapukur (Rangpur)

Assuring necessary government support, Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed urged farmers to redouble their effort to increase production of food by turning single-crop farmland into two-crop land.

"We don't have any alternative to food production as acreage of land is squeezing due to urbanization, industrialization and infrastructure development," he told a meeting of representatives of cross-sections of people at the Upazila auditorium.

Dr Ahmed, now in Rangpur holding a meeting of the Council of Advisors, said instructions were given to departments concerned to timely supply agricultural inputs like fertilizer, diesel and irrigation to farmers in order to boost boro paddy production this year.

The head of caretaker government said the Rural Electrification Board has been provided with money to buy electric transformers to help irrigation for the boro farming. Besides, shops and markets have been ordered to close at 8pm to save power for irrigation.

He said the government has set the target of procuring 28 lakh tons of fertilizer this year, 3 lakh tons more than previous year's, to support increased agricultural production.

The fertilizers will be distributed from 12,000 to 14,000 points so that farmers could get it timely.

"Turn your one-crop land into two-crop land and two-crop into three-crop land. Government will provide all-out support to you in increasing production, " he said.

Dr Ahmed noted that the incumbent government has prioritized the agriculture sector with increased allocation in ADP. Besides, Tk 350 crore has been earmarked for agriculture research to increase the production of food-grains.

Explaining the reason for holding the Council-of-Advisors meeting in Rangpur, he said, "We want to take government to the doorstep of common people. Rangpur has been selected as it is far away from the capital Dhaka."

He said the Council meeting asked the Advisors to identify the problems in the northern region and take effective measures to resolve those. From now on, the Advisors will visit different districts and meet people to know their problems and find solutions.

About the coming general election, the Chief Advisor said, "We are moving towards the elections to be held towards the end of this year."

He said the Election Commission is preparing a voter list with spontaneous support of the people.

Dr Ahmed mentioned that the Council of Advisors has approved an ordinance making the Election Commission independent. " Our aim is not only to hold an election in a free and fair manner this year but all elections in the future."

Presided over by Rangpur DC Khandaker Atiar Rahman, the meeting was also addressed by Moslem Uddin Pramanik for farmers, Shahana Begum for teachers, Abdul Halim for journalists, Shah Mohammad Hafizur Rahman for UP chairmen and Rangpur Municipal chairman Abdur Rouf Manik.

The local representatives raised various demands, including establishment of industrial units and cold storage in the laggard region.

The Chief Advisor said the government would extend all cooperation if the private sector took initiative for setting up industries.