The newly appointed food minister has expressed the hope that the government will be able to revive the rice husking mills, which will in turn help farmers get fair prices for their harvest.
Speaking at a reception accorded to him by rice mill owners in Naogaon town’s Thikana Community Centre on Saturday, Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said husking mills were dying out under competition from automatic rice mills.
“If we can revive these mills, the farmers will be able to get fair prices for their paddy since there will be more competition for buying paddy,” he said.
Sadhan Chandra, who is from Naogaon’s Niamatpur upazila, was elected MP from Naogaon 1 constituency for the third consecutive term in the 11th general election.
In Naogaon, a major rice-producing district, the appointment of a food minister who has owned and run a wholesale rice trade inherited from his father for most of his life has been lauded as a judicious move.
“Food directorate is responsible for taking care of the hunger of 160 million people. I will try to carry out my duties with honesty,” he said.
“We will have to protect the interests of farmers, mill owners, rice traders and everyone else involved,” he added.
“My directorate will try to ensure that consumers, traders, mill owners and farmers are not harmed. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always says, save the farmer to save the country.
“We have built a hunger-free nation. Now our goal is to ensure nutritious, unadulterated and safe food for all,” Sadhan said.
Naogaon Rice Mill Owners Association President Rafiqul Islam and General Secretary Farhad Hossain Chakdar, rice and paddy wholesalers association President Nirod Boron Saha, and Naogaon MPs Nizam Uddin Jalil Jhon and Salim Uddin Tarafdar were present at the event.
