Northern DCs for Teesta Master Plan implementation
Staff Reporter :
The deputy commissioners (DCs) of eight northern districts emphasised implementing the Teesta Master Plan immediately to increase crop production in the region by ensuring adequate irrigation facilities for the farmers on Monday. Otherwise, crop production will decrease drastically in the region.
They have also requested to implement the projects of dam construction and protection
across the country before the rainy season and activate the River Protection Committees as soon as possible, in a session of the second day of the four-day annual conference of the Deputy Commissioners (DC Conference) going on at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
Responding to the suggestion of the DCs, State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque said that the project must be implemented as it’s the commitment of the Prime Minister. “Once the Prime Minister makes a commitment to anyone, it must be implemented.”
On the second day of the conference, the policymakers of the government urged the DCs to work to ensure the prevention of corruption by enhancing the ongoing anti-hoarding drives and ensuring fair activities of open market sales (OMS) and Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) sale programmes.
They have also asked the DCs to strengthen the drives against plastic products and production. In the session with the ministries of Food and Agriculture, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder instructed them to continue monitoring the markets and rice mills so that no one could increase rice illogically.
He also asked to monitor that no one can supply rice bags in the market without mentioning the name of the rice variety.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of rice will be distributed to 50 lakh families under the Food-Friendly Programme (FPP) on the occasion of the holy Ramadan.
One and a half lakh metric tonnes of food will be distributed to 50 lakh families by March 10, he told a press briefing after joining the conference of deputy commissioners (DCs) at the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
Asked whether this will bring comfort to people’s lives or not, Sadhan said that if 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of rice are distributed to Taka 15 to 50 lakh families, these people will no longer have to buy rice from the market.
I think it will bring comfort, he said About the decision to mention the price and variety of rice on the sacks, the minister said the decision was taken that a circular in this regard would be issued by February 20 and it would be implemented from April 14, or Pahela Boishakh, when the new Boro rice will come into the market.
He mentioned that no one will change the packet of rice, which now remains bagged in the market. So, it will be effective from when the boro rice comes to market in the Bengali New Year, he said.
He said DCs have been asked to extend all-out cooperation in implementing the decision by the stipulated time.
Asked whether the DCs have the updated information, the minister said a meeting has started with the DC and mill owners.
Samples of paddy and rice varieties are also being provided to the DCs, he said. About the campaign against hoarding, he said it has largely been successful.
Six essential food items will be sold to 10 million families through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) during Ramada, State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu has said.
He has directed the deputy commissioners (DCs) to monitor the goods so that they reach the people of the country properly.
He said this while talking to reporters after a meeting with DCs on the second day of the DC Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Monday.
The state minister said TCB products will be sold through permanent shops starting next year instead of trucks. Before Ramadan, 100,000 metric tonnes of sugar and 50,00,000 metric tonnes of onion will be imported from India.
He said, “The price of oil has been reduced by Tk10 to reduce duty. There is enough supply of all products ahead of Ramadan. No prices of any products will be increased.”
Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun asked Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to prepare a list of Geographical Indication (GI) products.
DCs should support entrepreneurs in making world-class products," he said in response to a proposal of deputy commissioners at the Ministry of Industries session during the second day of the ongoing Deputy Commissioners Conference in the city.
Humayun said that despite shortages and complaints, Bangladesh is performing satisfactorily. As the government keeps a close eye on commodity prices, all of us need to practice frugality, he added.
