Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has issued a directive to finalize a comprehensive and accurate national database of farmers by this coming December. During a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday, he emphasized that the process must be conducted with rigorous verification to ensure the rights of farmers are fully protected.
Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Hasan Shiplu, stated that the Prime Minister instructed the development of a “Farmer Card” equipped with photographs and QR codes. These cards are intended to store essential data, including the farmer’s identity, agricultural production records, government assistance received, and information regarding agricultural market access. The Prime Minister underscored that these specific features must be integrated into the card design.
During the briefing, it was noted that the process of opening bank accounts for farmers is already underway. Once the necessary preparations are complete, these cards will be distributed to farmers in phases. The initiative aims to ensure that government subsidies, low-interest loans, incentives, and other state benefits reach genuine farmers quickly and efficiently. In the current fiscal year, 43 lakh farmers are expected to benefit from this program, with plans to bring approximately 2 crore farmers under this coverage within the next three years.
The meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Agriculture Minister Amin Ur Rashid, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Amin Ur Rashid, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, Prime Minister’s Advisor Mahdi Amin, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shakirul Islam Khan, BNP Special Secretary Belayet Hossain, and Bangladesh Dairy Farmers’ Association President SM Amir Hamza Shatil, alongside various ministry secretaries.
In a separate session held at the Secretariat, Prime Minister Tareq Rahman pledged his support for ensuring sustainable development, environmental protection, and effective water management for citizens. This discussion focused on addressing the current challenges in the nation’s water management systems and identifying sustainable long-term solutions.
Hasan Shiplu reported that the meeting covered a wide range of critical infrastructure issues, including the restoration of canals, the stability of rivers and embankments, the improvement of urban drainage systems, wastewater treatment, and rainwater harvesting. The participants also highlighted the urgent need for integrated and effective urban planning in the face of rapid urbanization.
The session included representatives from various environmental, water, and engineering sectors, led by the social development organization Footsteps Bangladesh. Experts shared their recommendations, advocating for long-term planning, the adoption of modern technology, enhanced inter-agency coordination, and the integration of climate change impacts into national policy. Following these presentations, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with experts to secure safe and efficient water management for the public.
The meeting was attended by notable figures including Footsteps Bangladesh Trustee and Head of Partnerships Fasbir Eskander, President Shah Rafayat Chowdhury, Vice President Mohammad Taki Yasir, former World Bank waste management project chief engineer Tarik Bin Yusuf, United International University professor Mujibur Rahman, RedOrange Director Alok Kumar Majumder, Deputy Director Samiul Islam, Youth for NDC Executive Director Amanullah Parag, GarbageMan founder Fahid Uddin Shuvo, and urban and rural planner SM Mehedi Hasan.