DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday categorically said Bangladesh has achieved self-sufficiency in food production due to imparting loans under easier conditions.

She also highlighted the improved condition in fish, rice, vegetables productions.

The PM said her government does not want to run the country by begging showing its poverty to the world.

“Rather, we will stand on our own feet keeping heads high. We know what it means to be dependent on others,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina came up with the observations while addressing a program organized to handover Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Puraskar-1420 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in city in the afternoon.

Congratulating the winners, the PM said Father of the Nation knew that over-all development of Bangladesh lies in the development of its agriculture sector.

She also recounted the steps that the then government led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took for the development of the sector.

Sheikh Hasina also recalled the steps took by Awami League government during 1996-2001 tenure.

She also said incumbent government has subsidized about Tk 51,084-crore in the last seven years as development assistance.

The government has spent Tk 479.28-crore for delivering agricultural equipment in lower price or free among the farmers, she added.

“We have introduced agricultural equipment assistance cards and helped the farmers open bank accounts by depositing Tk-10 only.”

According to her, Bangladesh has turned into a role model in agricultural development.

She added that FAO has recently recognized the floating farming technique of Bangladesh as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).

BDST: 1441 HRS, JAN 07, 2016
SR/RR/SMS