If a long march could solve gas and power problems, the government itself would hold the biggest one: State Minister Mir Shahe Alam

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has said that if the gas and electricity problems could be solved through a long march, the government itself would organise the biggest long march. He said the public cannot be misled by a long march or by showing empty cylinders, and that the people have given the government five years.

The state minister made the remarks on Thursday noon (5 November) at the inauguration of the 14th International Agriculture Technology Fair at Bashundhara in the capital. He said the opposition should come to parliament and advise the government instead of taking the path of threats, intimidation or movement.

On gas exploration and well drilling, Mir Shahe Alam said an answer must be given as to why no new gas wells were drilled in the last 20 years. There is also the question of why supplying gas from Bhola through a pipeline was not considered earlier, he said.

He said work is currently under way to create a gas connection with Bhola. Alongside that, there is a plan to drill 52 new gas wells.

Pointing to the scale of subsidy in the fertiliser sector, the state minister said the government currently has to provide 27,000 crore taka in subsidy in the fertiliser sector.

Noting that researchers are not being properly valued, the state minister said the world's most talented people join research, but in this country they are not properly evaluated. It is seen that people who sat on the third or fourth bench in the classroom become directors general at some point, he said, adding that the government is considering increasing researchers' pay and allowances.

Raising the need to further enrich the agricultural economy after the fourth industrial revolution, he said fairs and market management create a connection between product producers and buyers. As no proper survey was done during the previous government's time, reliable information about the country's actual population, number of families and number of farmers was not available, he said.

Claiming that import dependence in agriculture is decreasing, the state minister said that apart from tomato, green chilli, sugar and soybean oil, not much else has to be imported. Institutions like the Rural Development Academy are playing an important role in increasing agricultural production, he noted.

Noting that Bangladesh is self-sufficient in rice production, Mir Shahe Alam said a policy is being made to market fortified, nutrient-rich flour to increase nutritional value. An initiative is also being taken to make rice and flour nutrient-rich, as vitamin A is added to edible oil, he said.

On elections, the state minister said the government has no intention of holding voting at night. Tarique Rahman also has no intention of conducting an election using muscle power, he said, adding that the government will go to the people in the 2031 election after succeeding.

He also said the government is working to build the northern region as an economic centre by transforming Bogura airport into an international airport.