US Ambassador Dan W Mozena said Bangladesh will soon be turned into a middle-income country and is also immerging as a developed country.
The US also envoy emphasised on more private engagement in the agriculture-based industry of Bangladesh while addressing a view exchange at the auditorium of Pabna Circuit House yesterday morning.
“Aimed at learning about Bangladesh and understanding how it can utilise its resources, I have started my tour across the country,” Mozena said on the first day of his visit to northern districts.
Dan W Mozena kicked off his six-day tour to northern districts from Pabna yesterday. He will also visit Bogra, Joypurhat, Gaibanda Rangpur and Lalmonirhat.
“I am very delighted to learn that Pabna produces the most onions across the country. This gives hopeto agricultural development of the district. Litchi is one of the main resources of the district,” he said. The ambassador said farmers were often deprived of proper prices as they have to quickly sell their produce just after harvesting.
“Farmers have to preserve their produce for better moments,” Mozeena said urging private sectors to enhance preservation facilities.
“Private sector, beside the government, should install cold storage and agro-based production companies in the district for the sake of the farmers.” Dan W Mozeena said.
Paban Deputy Commissioner Kazi Ashraf Uddin and Pabna Police Superintendent Miraz Uddin also spoke on the occasion. They apprised the ambassador of the law and order situation and development activities in the district.
During the meeting, Mozena also queried about the Bonogram incident.
On November 2 last year a group of criminals allegedly attacked Hindus at Bonogram and vandalised hundreds of houses over a false posting on facebook. The attackers also looted valuables from the victims’ house.
“In Ramu the attack came from a fake facebook page, similar to what happened to the Hindu people attacked in Bonogram,” Dan W Mozeena said.
He also wanted to know about the present security condition of Bonogram.
In reply, Pabna Police Superintendent Md Miraz Uddin Ahmed said 34 people were reportedly arrested in this connection. Of them, three gave confessional statements.