The minister for local government, rural development and cooperatives has urged newly admitted students to establish themselves as entrepreneurs through agro-based industry, agribusiness and innovative farming ventures rather than chasing jobs alone. He said that if young people emerge as entrepreneurs by making use of the vast potential of the country’s agriculture sector, it will be possible both to create employment and to make an important contribution to the national economy.
Speaking as chief guest at an orientation programme for new students at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) in the capital on Sunday, he said that studying agriculture does not mean everyone must go into government service. Through agriculture-related business, industry and technology-based ventures, he said, students must create employment for themselves and opportunities for others as well.
The minister said employment for educated young people is now a major challenge. So it is not enough to obtain a degree; students must come forward with new ventures by developing skills, creativity and innovative thinking. At the same time, emphasis must be placed on transforming agriculture into a modern, technology-based and productive sector.
He added that investment in agricultural research must be increased and new technology taken to farmers in order to ensure the country’s food security. The role of students, teachers, researchers and field-level farmers is extremely important in the development of agriculture, he said.
At the event the prime minister’s education adviser, Dr Mahdi Amin, said Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University has made an important contribution to increasing agricultural production and to agricultural research in Bangladesh. New students will play an important part in future in building a Bangladesh self-sufficient in food, he said.
The programme, chaired by the SAU vice-chancellor, Dr Md Abdul Latif, was attended by the member of parliament for Madaripur-3, Anisur Rahman; the reserved women’s seat member of parliament Sanjida Islam Tuli; and teachers, students and invited guests of the university.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report