He said this in response to questions from journalists after his speech as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of a week-long tree plantation campaign and tree fair at the Comilla Town Hall ground this afternoon.
The minister said that under the direction of the Prime Minister, the local administration is working to collect accurate information about the affected farmers and cultivators in the flood-hit areas. After preparing the list at the union and ward levels, the government will provide assistance according to their needs.
The minister said that after the government announced the tree plantation program, the Prime Minister herself is regularly monitoring its progress. Therefore, there is no scope for irregularities in this program.
Speaking as the chief guest at the event, the minister said the government is determined to build Bangladesh as a green, clean and pollution-free country. With this goal in mind, a massive tree plantation program is being implemented across the country. He said that in regions of the country where fruit production is high, initiatives have been taken to further increase the production of those fruits to meet domestic demand as well as boost exports.
The minister further said that to ensure fair prices for farmers' produce, the government has taken initiatives to establish mini cold storage facilities across the country in phases. Cold storages have already been set up in various areas, and there are plans to construct more than two thousand additional mini cold storages in the future.
He said that about 75 percent of the country's people are directly or indirectly involved in agriculture. Therefore, the development of farmers, ensuring fair prices for their produce, and making agriculture a profitable sector are among the government's top priorities.
Comilla City Corporation Administrator Yusuf Mollah Tipu, District Commissioner Rozy Akhter, Comilla Social Forest Division Divisional Forest Officer Md. Ruhul Amin, Superintendent of Police Anisuzzaman, along with leaders from various political parties and officials from government departments, were present at the event.
Earlier, the minister took part in a colorful rally organized on the occasion of the tree fair and visited various stalls of fruit, forest and medicinal plants at the fair.
