Dhaka: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education and Primary and Mass Education, Mahdi Amin, announced the government’s plan to gradually include all primary school students in a mid-day meal programme aimed at enhancing nutrition. “Nearly two crores primary students would be provided with quality tiffin in phases,” he stated during a roundtable event titled “From Genome to Bioeconomy: Enhancing Bangladesh’s Biotechnology Capabilities by 2030” at The Business Standard auditorium in Eskaton Garden.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mahdi Amin emphasized the government’s focus on developing standard, nutritious, and non-perishable food through modern technology-based research. He described mid-day meals as a major government commitment and noted that current items like butter buns or bananas are prone to quick spoilage. Amin highlighted the need for cost-effective and longer-lasting food solutions to ensure proper nutrition and reduce wastage.
Addressing gaps in the education system, Mahdi Amin called for curriculum reforms to equip students with practical, transferable, and technical skills. He also advocated for stronger industry-academia collaboration to create jobs in emerging sectors such as biotechnology. Amin stressed the importance of self-reliance in vaccines for both humans and livestock, aiming to reduce import dependency and build a domestic ecosystem.
Mahdi Amin further emphasized the need to increase production of crops like beetroot and mustard using modern agricultural technologies to bolster food security. On human resources, he mentioned efforts to transform “brain drain” into “brain circulation” by engaging expatriate researchers through joint initiatives. He expressed optimism that the proper use of biotechnology would improve livelihoods and ensure public empowerment.
The event also featured remarks from Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and ICT and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, and UGC Chairman Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed.