Araihazar: Home and Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General (Rtd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that the government is set to enact a new law aimed at protecting agricultural land for the benefit of farmers. He made this statement during an interaction with journalists at Araihazar after visiting the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adviser highlighted discrepancies in compensation practices, noting that while the roads and highway department offers triple the compensation for acquired lands, the local government engineering department does not extend similar benefits to farmers. He emphasized that this new law would address such issues to safeguard farmers’ interests.
The adviser further noted that farmers have achieved an additional production of 15 lakh metric tons of Boro paddy this year, which might eliminate the need for rice imports. He also mentioned that although farmers have yielded a substantial amount of potatoes, they are not receiving fair prices. Additionally, the cultivation of wheat, ginger, and turmeric has increased, suggesting a potential reduction in their imports.
Jahangir Alam stated that the government has expedited the procurement process by 15 days to protect farmers from middlemen. He also acknowledged corruption as a major issue in the country, suggesting that controlling it could resolve many related problems.
During his visit, the adviser also stopped at the Araihazar police station to exchange post-Eid greetings with local police officials. He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner of Narayanganj Zahidul Islam, Superintendent of Police Prottus Kumar Majumder, and Executive Director of BIRTAN Rahana Akther.