Prioritise agriculture to ensure supply of basic resources: Matia

Matia Chowdhury, a former agriculture minister and incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), has called for a greater focus on agriculture to ensure a sustainable supply chain of raw materials for the local industries.

She also stated that while we require industrialisation in order to create more jobs, we must also rely on agriculture for basic resources.

Matia Chowdhury, who is also the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on Ministry of Agriculture, made the remarks while visiting the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) on Wednesday.

“We should prioritize learning about life sciences and agriculture to ensure better crop production which in turn will sustain local industries,” said Matia Chowdhury.

“Bangladesh Awami League always puts emphasis on agriculture,” she remarked, highlighting several ongoing government initiatives. “As a result, the farmers had a better life throughout this government’s tenure.”

Also speaking at the occasion, ICAB President Md Shahadat Hossain said the organization was trying to develop the country’s financial eco-system.

“ICAB has been collaborating with the government, particularly on VAT and tax administration,” Shahadat Hossain remarked.

He also made a few recommendations for the agricultural sector’s development, including the elimination of middlemen through railway transportation of agricultural products, the production of high-breed seeds, and an increased ceiling of agriculture loans to farmers.

Furthermore, Shahadat Hossain called for increased funding for agriculture development in the upcoming national budget, citing the sector’s 40 per cent contribution to the country’s overall GDP, as well as the involvement of CAs in the government’s revenue expenditure management.

Among others, ICAB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shubhashish Bose, Vice President Fouzia Haque FCA, Vice President NKA Mobin FCA, Council Members Kamrul Abedin FCA, Sabbir Ahmed FCA, Md Moniruzzaman FCA, Md Forkan Uddin FCA, MBM Lutful Hadee FCA and Chief Operating Officer Mahbub Ahmed Siddique FCA, were present at the occasion.