Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Bangladesh could advance by putting agriculture and young people to work. He made the remarks as chief guest at an annual planning conference at the Rural Development Academy in Bogura on July 25. He said the government was trying to move the country forward and that the prime minister was working for development, including in Bogura.

Fakhrul said interest in producing agricultural products was declining and needed to be revived. He called for expanded activities around products invented by agricultural scientists. Saying young people now seek jobs, he argued that encouraging them to enter agriculture could transform the country. He also said creating a business-friendly environment was a responsibility and referred to increasing allocations for agricultural and other research.

The minister toured an exhibition of green technologies developed at the academy and received briefings from officials. The exhibition featured environmentally friendly technologies, agriculture and rural development innovations, and initiatives supporting sustainable development. Two Bogura members of parliament, ministry secretaries, officials, government representatives, agricultural experts and researchers attended the daylong conference.