The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Bogra

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed Wednesday made a suggestion for the people to make a habit of eating potato with rice to reduce demand for the staple, as there has been a bumper harvest of the vegetable this season.

"Eating potato with rice will reduce its (rice) demand alongside fulfilling nutrition requirement. So, a habit should be developed for eating potato," he said after visiting a farmers' market, set up under supervision of Bangladesh Army, in the town. Bogra Area Commander and GOC of 11 Infantry Division Major General Shamim Chowdhury, senior army officials, government officials, farmers and other local eminent people were present. General Moeen admitted that the country was experiencing a little food crisis at present and said, "We are trying our best to overcome the crisis."

He mentioned that Food Department has already started selling rice at fair price on the open market, and to make it a success, the government is increasing rice allocation as well as the number of dealers.

"For this, more people will be able to buy rice at fair price (at Tk 25) and save money," he told his audience.

Appreciating initiative to set up the farmers' market for direct marketing of farm produce, in the wake of price hike, the Army Chief said that the market helped decrease the number of middlemen as farmers could sell their products to the buyers directly here. He also assured the farmers of developing the marketplace as a permanent business hub.

General Moeen said that initiative should be taken so that the market could not be evicted with the change of government. "Under the initiative, the marketplace will be given under the district Administration so that nobody can occupy it."

He mentioned that 78 lakh mts of potato has been produced across the country during the current season and production of wheat also almost doubled.

The Army Chief hoped that the country would also reap a good harvest of boro in the coming season as supply of seeds, fertilizers and power was normal.

He noted that the country faced natural disaster last year, but nobody had to die of starvation. "We all tried and achieved success in tackling the situation," he said.