RDA Bogura to head national beekeeping expansion plan
The country has an annual demand of nearly 30,000 tons of quality honey and to meet this demand and create opportunities for foreign export, the government has decided to undertake a project, which will be led by Rural Development Academy (RDA) Bogura said State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mir Shahe Alam.
He also highlighted plans to establish a breeding and honey processing plant centered in Bogura, along with the production of improved queen bees, food-grade containers, honey testing, packaging, storage facilities, and rural outlets at a day-long training program marking World Bee Day 2026 was held at the (RDA), Bogura.
The awareness-based training titled “Climate-Resilient Beekeeping and the Benefits of Bee Products” was organised on Sunday with the overall support of the Bangladesh Beekeepers Society.
Mir Shahe Alam said that beekeeping can no longer be considered a small-scale profession.
He described it as a strategic sector for agriculture, safe food production, import substitution, export potential, and rural employment.
He stated, “Protecting bees means protecting agriculture; protecting agriculture means ensuring food security; and ensuring food security means protecting the future of Bangladesh.”
The State Minister added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is giving special importance to beekeeping, safe food production, fair prices for farmers, rural employment, and export-oriented rural industries.
He also mentioned that the Prime Minister had visited the beekeeping research activities conducted at RDA and was informed about the sector’s potential.
The training was arranged under the theme, “People and Bees Living Together on Earth – A Partnership.”
The inaugural session was attended by the State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mir Shahe Alam, MP, as the chief guest.
Around 500 beekeepers from different districts of the country participated in the programme.
The keynote paper was presented by Dr. Monirul Islam, Deputy Director of RDA. The event was presided over by Md. Ferdous Hossain Khan, Director General (Routine Charge) of RDA Bogura.
Special guests included AKM Sirajul Islam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Beekeepers Society and Executive Director of BASA Foundation; Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun, Director General of Gopalganj Rural Development Academy; and Dr. AKM Zakaria, former Director of RDA.
Beekeepers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and concerned individuals from different districts of the country attended the training programme.
