Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said members of law enforcement agencies must help farmers harvest the crops during Covid-19 situation.
The premier made the statement while addressing a videoconference with representatives and officials of the eight districts of Dhaka and Mymensingh division, on Monday morning.
“Due to coronavirus outbreak, a global food crisis may take place, but if we can preserve more food we may overcome that crisis,” she said.
The videoconference began around 10:10am from the prime minister's official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka.
The premier also said this year, the government will buy 2.1 million tons of food grains.
“We have already given an announcement to accumulate rice, we will buy more rice this time, 8 lakh (0.8 million) metric tons of paddy, 10 lakh (1 million) metric tons of rice, 2.2 lakh (0.22 million) metric tons of flour, 80,000 metric tons of wheat; in total 21 lakh (2.1 million) metric tons of food grains will be bought by the government as reserve,” she added.
The prime minister also added: “We have to give a combined effort for the paddy harvesting; law enforcement agencies will have to help the farmers.
“Those who want to go for paddy harvesting, they will need transportation support, and law enforcement agencies will help them,” the premier said.
“I have also instructed Awami League and its affiliated organizations to assist the farmers in collecting paddy from the field; already the Chhatra League has begun its activities in many districts,” said Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League.
Public representatives and officials of Manikganj, Gazipur, Tangail, and Kishoreganj in Dhaka division and Jamalpur, Sherpur, Netrokona and Mymensingh in Mymensingh division have been connected to the videoconference.
Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar along with private television channels and radio stations aired the program live.
