RANGAMATI, April 6, 2023 (BSS) - Agriculture Minister and Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Dr Md Abdur Razzaque today said the living standards of the people will improve if the agriculture of the country becomes modern.

"People's quality of life will improve only if agriculture is modern. Therefore, the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working to make agriculture modern and profitable," he said.

The minister said these while visiting vermicompost, sunflower field, malta, pineapple, cashew-nut and coffee plantation in Sapchari and Dichanpara of Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati district this morning.

The government is implementing integrated programmes to increase agricultural production, processing and exports, he said, adding that as a result of various initiatives, agriculture is becoming mechanized, processing of agricultural products exports are being increased.

Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, Dipankar Talukdar, MP, Basanti Chakma, MP, Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akhtar, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) Executive Chairman Dr Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, Director General of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Badal Chandra Biswas, Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati Mizanur Rahman and Superintendent of Police Mir Abu Towhid were also present, among others, on the occasion.

Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing said that the development of CHT is progressing under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"If this development trend continues, the hilly regions will not be a burden for the country; rather those will become the most resourceful areas for the country," he added.

Later, in the afternoon, agriculture minister Razzaque attended a discussion on the issues of increasing production and development of agriculture in Chittagong Hill Tracts at Shah Bahumukhi High School in Rangamati district town.

Speaking on the occasion, he said election is the only way to come to the power.

"Awami League never came to power without elections. The next election will be on time. And it will be held in a free, fair and peaceful manner," he added.

About BNP, the AL leader said BNP always comes to power through illegal means.

BNP will never be allowed to come to power through back doors without participating in the elections, he said.

On the same day at noon, the minister inaugurated the Digital Display Board for Agricultural Meteorology and Agricultural Meteorological Radio at the Regional Office of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Rangamati town.

It has been installed as part of the Digital Display Boards in all districts and headquarters of the country and installation of Agro Meteorological Radios in 12 agricultural regions under the Agro-Meteorological Information Systems Development Project.