DHAKA, May 16, 2020 (BSS)- As agriculture is the mainstay of national
economy, the government is keen to get over the agriculture-related problems
to ensure a sustainable food production mechanism in the face of coronavirus
pandemic, Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak said here today.
He made the remark from the conference room of the ministry here at a
meeting on ‘Zoom’, an online platform, as he exchanged views with
stakeholders on marketing of seasonal fruits including mango, litchi and
agricultural products amid the coronavirus outbreak, a press release said.
Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Agriculture Ministry chairman Begum
Matia Chowdhury, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, State Minister for
Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister for Foreign Affairs. Md
Shahriar Alam, State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Jatiya
Sangsad Whip Iqbalur Rahim, JS Standing Committee on Science and Technology
Ministry Chairman AFM Ruhal Haque, Former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur
Rahman, Chapai Nawabganj-1 lawmaker Shamil Uddin Ahmed Shimul, Agriculture
and media personality
Shykh Seraj and representative of the Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO) in Bangladesh Robert Douglas Simpson also addressed the meeting, it
added.
The meeting suggested ensuring smooth movement of traders, warehouse
keepers and paddy harvesting workers in Haors of other districts maintaining
proper health rules.
It also recommended giving health examination certificates if necessary
and arranging safe accommodation for them.
To ensure free movement of trucks and other vehicles in different parts of
the country for transportation of seasonal fruits and agricultural products,
no harassment of law enforcement agencies should come during it, the meeting
said.
The meeting recommended several suggestions, including use of BRTC truck,
extending local bank transaction deadline, increasing the scope of transport
of seasonal fruits and agricultural products in parcel trains or frozen
wagons, reduction of toll at Bangabandhu Bridge for returnee trucks.
The meeting also suggested including seasonal fruits such as mango and
litchi as relief items and initiatives for online and small-scale shopping in
vans.
In order to prevent the use of chemicals in seasonal fruits, the district
administrations, the Department of Agricultural Extension and the Department
of Agricultural Marketing will intensify monitoring activities and take steps
to implement those recommendations, the meeting said.