Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued a message greeting the countrymen on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year 1431, to be celebrated tomorrow. In her message, the premier said Pahela Baishakh is first day of Bengali New Year and it is universal festival. It is the day of harmony and the great reunion of Bengalis, she said. Sheikh Hasina called upon all, irrespective of religion and caste, to wake up with new joy forgetting the sorrows and failures of the past year. The search for the identity and roots of Bengalis can be found through its celebration, Sheikh Hasina said, adding that Pahela Baishakh is a reflection of the Bangalees. During the Pakistan period, the colonial power wanted to destroy the Bengali tradition, the premier said, adding that the Bengalis resisted it with the strength of self-identity and their own culture. Bengalis joined the struggle for liberation by holding that power under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she continued. She said the combined flow of culture and politics has been turned into a struggle for independence and freedom. "This is how independent sovereign Bangladesh emerged in the world," Sheikh Hasina added. Following this, the traditional Mangal Shovajatra has been recognized as world heritage by UNESCO, she said. "The international recognition of it is undoubtedly a great achievement. Following this path, the Bangalees will become the best nation in the world community," Hasina said. The Bengali nation cannot be suppressed as the achievements and progress of the Bangalee heroes will be remembered ages after ages, she said. Ethnic heritage and pride are also the key to the lifelong struggle of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in establishing the ideologies such as secularism, liberalism, nationalism and democracy, the premier added. She hoped that this year's Baishakh will be a great inspiration for the nation to fight against militancy, fundamentalism, extremism and anti-liberation forces and to build a society free from hunger and poverty  and a golden Bangladesh cum Smart Bangladesh as dreamt by Bangabandhu.   Source: BSS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has greeted the countrymen on Wednesday (April 10)  on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. PM said in a video message, "Dear Countrymen, Assalamualaikum, the holy Eid-ul-Fitr has come within us again after a month of fasting. Eid means joy. Let us share the joy of Eid with relatives, neighbors and all."  "May the Eid-ul-Fitr bring boundless joy, happiness and peace in our lives. May you all be well, healthy and safe. Eid Mubarak," she added. Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Thursday (April 11) as the moon of Shawwal of 1445 Hijri was not sighted in the sky of the country on Tuesday evening.  

On the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Azha, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina extended heartfelt greetings and wishes to all Muslims in Bangladesh and around the world.  Prime Minister stated, "Eid-ul-Azha teaches us these lessons: Peace, solidarity, sacrifice, and sense of brotherhood. In her message on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha PM Hasina said, "Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) had established an unparalleled example by sacrificing his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (peace be upon him) for the sake of Allah, which we, the muslims are follow and will follow forever as a ritual.. She added, "Every year, devout muslims establish a bond of empathy and equality among their relatives. poor and distressed people by distributing their sacrificial animals meat. Sheikh Hasina said, "Let the Muslim community's practice of sacrifice, self-purification, self-discipline, harmony, and love prevail in individual, family, social, and national life. May every person's life be filled with happiness and joy of Eid." Emphasizing the essence of Eid-ul-Azha, she called upon everyone to actively participate in welfare-oriented activities from their respective positions, contributing to the creation of an inclusive, prosperous, and peaceful Digital Bangladesh.  Prime Minister expressed her hope, saying, "Like every year, joy and happiness will reach everyone's life through this Eid."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "The Eid teaches peace, harmony and brotherhood. Forgetting hatred and violence, people are bound by the bonds of equality, friendship and harmony.  Eid brings joy to everyone's life irrespective of rich and poor. Happy Eid to all of us." On Friday, April 21, in a message, the Prime Minister wished all the Muslims of the country and the world on the holy Eid-ul-Fitr and urged to establish the spirit of Islam, the religion of peace, at all levels of individual, social and national life by avoiding all kinds of injustice, lawlessness, violence and superstition. She said, "Let self-purification, restraint, harmony of Muslims prevail in individual, family, society and state life. May the life of every person be filled with happiness and endless joy of Eid. May all the people around the world be happy, well-being and future prosperity on this day.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the countrymen on the eve of the New Year 2023. In his message, the president wished happiness and welfare for all in 2023. On the occasion of the New Year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also greeted the countrymen and said that in the new year, the bonds of harmony, amity and brotherhood among people will be strengthened, all crises will be removed, all narrowness will be overcome and everyone's lives will be filled with happiness, peace and prosperity. On Saturday, December 31, Prime Minister said this in a message given on the occasion of New Year. Sheikh Hasina said, on the occasion of the New Year 2023, I extend my sincere greetings to the people of the country and the people around world, including Bengalis who lives in abroad. According to the rules of nature, the new year instills new hope in people's minds and inspires them to move towards a beautiful future with new enthusiasm.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Sunday) cautioned the countrymen about repetition of August 15, 1975-like carnage as those who doesn’t like country’s development wouldn’t sit idle, reiterating that the August 21, 2004 grenade attack was launched under BNP government’s direct patronage. “More attacks may come. The August 15, 1975 attack was carried out when Bangabandhu started country’s development. Today, Bangladesh became developing nation and is heading towards a developed one ---those who doesn’t like this, they will not sit idle, they must attack ---so be alert about this,” she said. The premier also cautioned the people of the country about conspiracy being hatched as the next general election is approaching nearer.  Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League (AL) President, was presiding over a discussion organised by her party at its 23 Bangabandhu Avenue central office marking the 18th anniversary of the gruesome August 21, 2004 grenade attack.  The barbaric attack took away the lives of 22 AL leaders and activists and injured other several thousand people.   The Prime Minister said the Great Allah saved her time and again from various attacks as the Almighty has certainly bestowed some tasks on her. “We, who got new life surviving the August 21, 2004 grenade attacks, have the responsibility to the people. And our today’s pledge is to perform the duties till the last breath,” she said.   Mentioning that it was impossible to conduct such heinous attacks without state patronage, the premier said the then BNP government’s subsequent activities such as destroying all evidences, including unexploded grenades, helping killers flee the scene and even the country cleared the state sponsorship. Referring to Khaleda Zia’s remarks a few days before the attack that she (Sheikh Hasina) would never have to be the prime minister or even the opposition leader in future, she said Khaleda Zia knew everything well. In this connection, the premier said Khaleda Zia also made such remarks before planting bombs at Kotalipara that the AL will not be able to go to power in 100 years. She questioned how Khaleda Zia made such a forecast, saying, “If you follow her comments, these plots will come out”. AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader delivered the introductory speech at the discussion while it’s Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap moderated it. At the outset of the meeting, a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the martyrs of the August 21 grenade attack and the martyrs of the August 15 carnage. Immediately after reaching the venue, the Prime Minister placed a wreath at the makeshift podium to show respect to the August 21, 2004 martyrs. Later, she along with AL’s general secretary placed another wreath on behalf of the party.     Sheikh Hasina said the entire world is now witnessing economic debacle due to ongoing Coronavirus, Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter sanctions and people have been suffering immensely for those reasons. “The world is now facing an economic meltdown which impacts on our country. We’re thinking of protecting the people of our country from it,” she said. The Prime Minister called upon all to join hands with the government to help rescue Bangladesh from the situation instead of making wholesale criticisms. Considering the global context, she asked the countrymen to show austerity in using electricity, gas and water as the rich countries including USA, UK, Australia and Germany are facing difficulties. The Prime Minister reminded the people, who raised questions (regarding  2014 and 2018) elections, about the so-called polls during regimes of Khaleda Zia and Ershad that included February 15 of 1996 voter-less general election by Khaleda Zia. She even asked them to enquire about the election of 2001 in which her party Awami League had got maximum votes. “How many people could cast their votes even in the 2001 general election? AL leaders and activists deserted their houses as immense torture was carried out on them four days prior to the election by employing army countrywide. Despite it, the AL got the maximum votes, but failed to get maximum seats due to mechanism,” she said. About participation in elections by BNP, the premier questioned how BNP will take part in the polls as it is leaderless as their leaders are either accused (of different cases) or fugitive. “How will they get votes and by seeing whom the people will vote for them?” she said, adding that the BNP boycotts the election in fear of defeat.                                                                                   The Prime Minister said she has belief and trust in people as they voted her party to power for the third consecutive term since 2008, urging the countrymen to be alert as conspiracy is being hatched as usual ahead of the next general election. BNP is running after foreigners to come to power, she said, adding that people will decide which party will come to the power and whether they want the reign of darkness with terrorism and militancy or the development.   “Killing is the character of the BNP. We are urged to sit with them to bring them into election. Why? I don’t understand. Are there no people in Bangladesh?” she questioned. About the August 21 grenade attacks on an AL rally in protest against terrorism and militancy and grenades attacks on the then Bangladeshi born British high commissioner Anwar Chowdhury, she said the attacks were carried out under the direct patronage of the BNP government. “Such an attack on a rally in broad daylight can’t take place without patronisation of the government. The target was to kill me and destroy the Awami League,” she said, reminiscing the carnage that was launched immediately after she concluded her speech. The Prime Minister said Khaleda Zia had sent abroad four persons, including one of the perpetrators of August 21 grenade attack Maulana Tajuddin, and killers of Bangabandhu Col Rashid and Dalim by Singapore Airlines on that day (August 21, 2004).  She said it was learnt that Col Rashid and Dalim came to Dhaka at that time and were under supervision of Khaleda Zia and her elder son Tarique Rahman. She added that the perpetrators had decided to leave the country when they were sure that she did not die. The premier said after assuming office in 2001, the BNP-Jamaat alliance government established a reign of terror across the country and killed thousands of leaders and activists of the Awami League.  Recalling the terrible scene of the grenade attack, Sheikh Hasina, who was the leader of the opposition in parliament at that time, said the party leaders and activists including Mohammad Hanif saved her life by creating a human shield. Holding the BNP government responsible for destroying the evidence of the grenade attack, Sheikh Hasina questioned, “If the BNP was not involved in the carnage, why did they damage the evidence?” After the grenade attack, a government organization washed the entire area by pouring water to erase all evidence, the premier said. “The BNP government sacked a young army officer who wanted to keep an unexploded grenade as evidence … it means that they did not want to keep a single evidence of the attack”, she said. The Prime Minister said after the attack on that day, police lobbed tear gas canisters and resorted to lathi (baton) charge on AL leaders and workers instead of rescuing the dead and the injured persons to give a scope to the attackers to flee without trouble. Pointing out that six opposition lawmakers were injured in the attack, the Prime Minister said they were not allowed to utter a single word or discuss the matter in parliament. The most painful thing was that no pro-BNP physicians were present in the hospitals particularly the Dhaka Medical College Hospital to treat the injured people, she said. “Even we were barred from bringing a resolution in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) to condemn the attack. Rather taking the floor, the then prime minister and leader of the house Khaleda Zia ridiculed the issue, saying, “Who will kill her (Sheikh Hasina)?,” she said. The AL president also prayed for eternal peace of the souls of those embraced martyrdom in the August 21 grenade attack. Source: BSS AH

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted countrymen as well as the Muslims across the globe on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Azha. On the eve of the day, they issued separate messages praying that the holy Eid-ul-Azha brings good for all with the rise of the ideology of sacrifice. In his message, the President said: "Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) has set an incomparable example of love, obedience and sacrifice to Allah by taking steps to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS) at the directive of Allah." "Azha means Qurbani (sacrifice)," he said, adding that sacrifice instills the spirit of self-sacrifice into all and also teaches them the spirit of sharing happiness and sorrow with relatives and neighbors. The President said this year the Eid-ul-Azha is being celebrated at a time when the world community is distraught witnessing a catastrophe arisen out of coronavirus pandemic as many people are in hardship at different parts of the world, including Bangladesh. In the last two years, the whole world, including Bangladesh, celebrated Eid-ul-Azha amidst the horrors of the corona pandemic, the head of the state said. "Coronavirus infections are under control at present but there is a need to take appropriate precautions to prevent future infections," he added. He urged the affluent people of the country to stand by the people affected by the coronavirus pandemic so that they can enjoy the holy Eid. The President also called upon the citizens to sacrifice their animals in government designated places. He hoped that everyone will try to prevent the environment pollution by removing the waste of sacrificial animals after Qurbani. In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: "On the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, I am extending my greetings to all the Muslims across the globe, including Bangladesh. I want to say 'Eid Mubarak' (to all)." Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also called upon the Muslims to be imbued with the spirit of the holy Eid-ul-Azha to participate in welfare-oriented activities to establish a discrimination-free, happy, prosperous and peaceful Bangladesh. She said the unique instance set by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) by sacrificing his dearest thing for the satisfaction of Allah will be imitated and followed forever. Through the festival, the capable Muslims establish the bonding of sympathy and equality among the mankind by distributing meat of their sacrificial animals among relatives and neighbors, she added. Noting that the coronavirus is becoming dangerous again, she said: "Allah tests patience of human being in crisis. During this time, we will have to extend cooperation to one another keeping endless patience with tolerant and sympathetic mindsets." She greeted the countrymen and the Muslims in the world on the occasion and hoped that like every year, this Eid will bring happiness and joy to all irrespective of the rich and the poor. Sheikh Hasina prayed to Allah for continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country and Muslim Ummah on the holy day. Besides, she urged all to sacrifice their animals in designated places following health guidelines properly. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today (Thursday) said the people of the country have no alternative to "boat" as her party is working to change the fate of the masses since its inception.   "They (countrymen) know that boat is an election symbol of the Awami League and people have no other option except  boat. --- AL has come to power not to build its own fate rather to make lot of people," she said.       She said this while presiding over a meeting marking the 73rd founding anniversary of the AL held at 23, Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital. The premier said that all the achievements of Bangladesh including independence and prosperity have come at the hand of the Awami League.   She added: "The Awami League has been working for people's welfare since its inception. The party has not only given the people the independence of the country, but also is reaching the fruit of independence to every doorstep."   She said her government has given electricity to every house and is working to bring every person under a housing scheme as none would remain homeless and landless in the country of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.       The premier heavily criticised the BNP leader for their demand to stop the grand opening celebration of the Padma Bridge on the plea of flooding. She said their party (BNP) has yet to stand beside the flood affected people while the government has already mobilised all its resources to give every support to the flood-hit people since the day one.   AL Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, MP, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman, AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Bir Bikram, Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, MP, International Affairs Secretary Dr Shammi Ahmed, Central Executive Member Parvin Zaman Kalpana, Dhaka South and North City AL Presidents Abu Ahmed Monnafi and Sheikh Bazlur Rahman respectively spoke on the occasion.   The party's central Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP, moderated the meeting.   Bangladesh Awami League was formed on this day (June 23) in 1949, which later transformed into the biggest political party of the country to lead struggles of freedom, the War of Liberation and all democratic movements. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Thursday) reiterated her call to the countrymen to receive Covid-19 jab to escape the lethal virus infection newly, directing the authorities concerned to make the vaccination campaign in grassroots level available through community clinics.   "We have to take measure so that none is infected (with Coronavirus) again and none remains beyond vaccination coverage," she said, adding "Everyone has to take Covid-19 jab."   She also said that the ministry of health has already been asked to make the vaccination drive available in villages and grassroots levels through each community clinic and health centre.   The premier was addressing the SSC and equivalent examinations results unveiling and free textbook distribution ceremony at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital.   She said the Covid-19 jab would be administered through community clinic or health centre across the country but "those who has yet to receive the jab, they must have to get it".   Sheikh Hasina opined that the ministry of education and other concerned will have to be cautious so people would receive the jab.   She also asked all concerned to make sure that student and their guardian would get vaccine.    Turning to SSC and equivalent examinations results, she extended her greetings to the successful students.   The Prime Minister also urged the parents of the unsuccessful students to cooperate them so they can continue their studies.   Parents or guardian have to come forward so the students can carry on their studies availing the facilities being provided by the government online and through other mediums, she said, adding, "Guardian is not only the guardian rather they have to carry out role of teacher.   Mentioning that her government has laid emphasis on two issues –nutrition and mental health awareness, she said they have initiated the school feeding programme and simultaneously parents or guardians have to pay heed to nutrition of their kids.   In this connection, she said one lakh teachers and officials have been imparted training so they can give lesson to their students about nutrition.   On the other hand, she said around two lakh teachers have been provided training on mental health while it is one of the most important issue as many of this country are not aware of their kids' mental health.   She noted that some time many kids do not read or they don't have concentration on lesson or can't pay attention to teacher in class room and then it was said that the kids are inattentive or cannot continue study.   But, the issue is not like that rather it is one type of disability and different type of syndrome, she said, adding that it has to be paid concentration why he/she can't do this and what is the reason.   The Prime Minister said, "Our guardian or teacher is not aware of it and that is why this awareness is urgently necessary".   She opined that each teacher should be made aware about it by the education ministry and each education institution should conduct screening campaign to find out whether there is any problem among the students. Mentioning that most of the former joint families in the country turned  into single family, the Prime Minister said, "In the joint family if any child had minor problems, it would have been cured as they used to play with  many children in combine".     She told the parents in single family that they should give company to  their kids and arrange the scope so their children could spend time with others to ensure their mental growth and health.     She continued that they (parents) should not confine their children only in textbook study rather make the arrangement of environment of study, developing social relations with others and growing up socially.     The head of the government said they have made arrangements such as vocational training and other educational institutions in upazila and grassroots levels for study so that everyone get proper education.     She said no work is smaller rather every work has an honour as "respecting work is the biggest thing" and this lesson needs to be given to the children from their early age.    Mentioning that today's student will be the golden people for building Bangabandhu's "Sonar Bangla", she urged the parents and teachers to pay attention to grooming up them in this way.     "We have to build the skilled citizens and make them worthy of taking the advantages of the 4th Industrial Revolution," she said.    About the textbook distribution, Sheikh Hasina said today is a very important day for every student as books are being given in New Year along with the announcement of results.     "The joy of getting new books is different as wrapping the new book and writing the name on it, is an amazing feeling," she added.     She said the government is preparing the books for the visually impaired students alongside the general students as well so they do not lag behind.    "We are also making books in the language of small ethnic groups. So far we have got five of their languages and made books in those languages," she added.    Sheikh Hasina directed the education ministry to continue their online education programmes as the corona infection rate takes a curved situation.    The premier said the Covid-19 infection is usually seen to be rise immediately after the winter season in country. So the education ministry will have to take preparation from right now on to continue the online learning programmes in case of possible surge in Covid-19 infection, she said.    "Since it will not be possible to keep schools open in case of fresh surge of Covid-19, measures will have to be taken to reach online teaching to every house," she said.    At the outset of the event, the Prime Minister unveiled the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations results alongside opening the free textbook distribution ceremony.     Chairmen of 11 education boards - nine general boards, one madrasha education board and one technical education board - handed over the results.     On behalf of the Prime Minister, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni received the results.     Candidates will be able to get their results from websites and through SMS.     Examinees can get the results from education board website  http://www.educationboardresults.gov.bd/ and also from the websites of their respective education boards alongside respective education institutions.     A total of 22,78,098 students participated in the SSC and equivalent examinations under 11 education boards.     Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, MP and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md. Zakir Hossen, MP also spoke.     Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, MP delivered the welcome address, while Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Md.  Mahbub Hossain highlighted the different aspects of SSC and equivalent examinations results and book distribution.     Besides, like previous year, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the free textbook distribution among the students of primary and secondary levels.     A total of 34,70,22,130 copies of books are being distributed among 4,17,26856 students free of cost across the country.     On behalf of the Prime Minister, the education minister and the state minister for primary and mass education handed over the books among the selected students from the different educational institutions.  Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Saturday) urged all not to waste food saying food was being wasted in many countries while many nations were suffering from food shortage.    "Don't waste food," she said in a virtual address from her official Ganabhaban residence coinciding with the World Food Day stressing the need for finding ways to recycle surplus food to evade wastage.    Sheikh Hasina said many nations were exposed to food shortage while some were wasting it.   The premier simultaneously called for continued research to boost food production in the country.   She also put importance on the research that whether other needs can be met by the excess food.   Hoping that Bangladesh will never face any scarcity of food in future, she said research on food production cannot be halted in any way as her government has been prioritizing it since assuming power.   Sheikh Hasina said, "Research has to be continued as the production capacity of newly invented seed may gradually decrease. That's why research has to be kept running. Everyone has to put concentration on it."   She said the country's scientists have achieved success in the research of inventing different varieties of drought, salinity, water-logging, severe winter or heat-tolerant paddies and this trend has to be continued.   She added, "I think our agricultural scientists are the best scientists in the world and I expressed my gratitude to them."   The Prime Minister said her government will build a hunger-and-poverty-free Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman where all the fundamental rights of people such as safe food, nutrition, education, residence etc will be ensured.   She went on saying, "In fact, when Awami League was in power, North Bengal became Manga (famine) free and it will remain Manga free . . . . But, we have to make sure that none can bring famine in the country through conspiracy."   She said that they will keep their work running to ensure food production and meet nutritional demand of people.   Sheikh Hasina urged all concerned to work in this connection.   She also reiterated her call to all to put attention on cultivation so one inch of land is not remained fallow.   She said many countries in the world have scarcity of food during the Covid-19 pandemic but Bangladesh never wants to see it.   With Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque in the chair, Senior Secretary of the Ministry Md. Mesbahul Islam delivered the welcome speech.   Fisheries and Livestock Minister S M Rezaul Karim and Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder also spoke as special guests.   A documentary on agriculture and food production was screened at the event, organized by the Agriculture Ministry in the city's InterContinental Hotel.   The World Food Day 2021 is being observed in the country as elsewhere in the world with the theme "Our actions are our future- Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life".   The Prime Minister introduced Bangabandhu Dhan-100 (Bangabandhu Paddy 100) through unveiling a portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman created with paddies.   She also unveiled the cover of a book "100 Years of Agricultural Development in Bangladesh". The Prime Minister said in 1973 Bangabandhu formed the “National Agricultural Award Fund,” while in the constitution he guaranteed the emancipation of peasants and workers, the provision of basic necessities to the citizens, the development of public health and the nutritional status of the people along with rural development and the agricultural revolution, and the preservation and development of the environment and biodiversity. She said the Father of the Nation wanted to introduce integrated/collective farming in a cooperative system. “Bangabandhu wanted rural development through the introduction of special farming system alongside agricultural development and he wanted collective farming in every village and the distribution of crops to the owners, workers and village funds,” she said, adding, “If his (Bangabandhu's) vision would have been materialized, Bangladesh emerged as a developed nation 40 years ago.” Sheikh Hasina said due to Bangabandhu’s efforts, Bangladesh became a member of FAO in 1973. As he adopted the first five-year plan, about 5 percent annual growth was achieved in the agricultural sector. She said following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after assuming power in 1996, her government started adopting and implementing plans extensively giving special emphasis on the development of the agricultural sector. For the first time, she said, they formulated “New Agricultural Extension Policy 1996” and “Agricultural Policy, 1999”. “As a result of our various initiatives in agricultural research and development, we’ve achieved food self-sufficiency by tackling the food shortages of the past,” the premier said. Sheikh Hasina said in the last 13 years, they’ve made huge progress in the agriculture sector by ensuring use of digital technology in farming. The government has made arrangements to exchange information with the farmers through Krishi Batayan, Krishak Bandhu Phone Service (3331), Krishaker Janala and Krishi Call Center (16123). In addition, the government has provided agricultural input assistance cards to about 2.10 crore farmers, out of which 1 crore 2 lakh 70 thousand 143 people are getting benefits by opening bank accounts at Taka 10, she revealed. Mentioning that her government is emphasizing on agricultural product processing and value chain management, Sheikh Hasina said since 2009, 655 improved yielding and adverse environment tolerant varieties of crops and 591 technologies have been developed alongside arranging the crops according to the climate and soil suitability. She said they have further increased allocation for agricultural education and research and as a result, agriculture scientists are rapidly moving towards the use of 4th Industrial Revolution technology in the agricultural sector. She said in comparison to the statistics of 2009, the present statistics showed that by 2020 the production of rice has increased by 17%, wheat by 21%, maize by 640%, potato by 98%, pulses by 443%, oilseeds by 75%, vegetables by 534% and onions by 248%, which is unimaginable. The Prime Minister said their efforts have made unprecedented progress in raising livestock such as cows, goats, ducks, chickens. In the last 12 years, the production of animal protein, milk, meat and eggs has increased 5 times, 7 times and 4 times respectively. At present, she said, the country is able to produce surplus food. She added, Bangladesh is now third in the world in rice production, third in vegetable production, fourth in tea production, seventh in mango and potato production and eighth in guava production. She continued the country has achieved third place in fish production in inland open water while first place in Hilsa fish production. Source: BSS AH