Utilise every inch of land for boosting food output

  • 15/02/2008

  • Daily Star

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed called for utilising every inch of land for boosting food output. He made the remark while addressing a rally on the Char Jubli Habib Ullah Mia Hat High School premises in Subornachar upazila yesterday. "Import of food would not solve the food deficit problem nor will it bring down prices of rice. Food deficit has to be solved through boosting production,' he said, calling for utilising 30 crore hands of 15 crore people. General Moeen told the audience that two-thirds of allocated money of development projects used to be wasted earlier. "Now speed has returned to development activities as full funds are being used in development activities,' he said. Earlier, he distributed one irrigation pump machine, one power tiller and one urea fertiliser machine among the members of Modern Krishi Samabaya Samity. He also handed over books to the heads of Char Jabbar Degree College and Habib Ullah Mia High School. GOC of Comilla region Major General Anwar Hossain was present on the occasion. General Moeen flew in here by a helicopter from Feni. After arrival, he went to Gassapia village where he inaugurated small milk farm project of the army. Earlier, the army chief, also chairman of the Trust Bank operated by the Sena Kalyan Trust, inaugurated the bank's Feni branch. Speaking on the occasion General Moeen underscored the need for setting up more Export Processing Zones (EPZ) in the country for boosting its problem-ridden economy. "Utilising our concept and example India has set up 250 EPZs in the country where we have only eight,' General Moeen said. Speaking on the activities of the Trust Bank General Moeen said dividends of the bank are used in assistance of the poor army personnel and also the uplift projects. "Country's people will be able to play an effective role in the country's development process by depositing their money with this bank,' Moeen U Ahmed said. Talking on EPZ, General Moeen said the government has already approved the setting up of an Export Processing Zone at the abandoned Feni Airport owned by the Armed Forces. Trust Bank Managing Director Iqbal U Ahmed gave the welcome speech on the occasion. Trust Bank Manager Major General Aminul Hasan, Comilla Cantonment and 33 infantry division GOC Major General Anwar Hossain and assistant vice-president of corporate and marketing department of the bank Aftab Mahmud were present.