Moeen dismisses fear of silent famine

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RANGPUR, Mar 16 (UNB): Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed today dismissed the fear of 'silent famine' saying the government has overcome the problems caused by natural calamities of consecutive floods and devastating cyclone.
"There is no famine. It's true there has been shortfall of food grains as the country suffered from five consecutive natural calamities of flooding and devastating cyclone. But we have been able to overcome the problems," said chief of the Army which is baking the caretaker government.
The assertion of Gen Moeen came on the heels of Regulatory Reforms Commission chairman Dr Akbar Ali Khan's observation that the country was passing through 'silent famine'.
He was speaking while opening stitching training centre for women at Begum Rokeya Complex at Pairaband in Mithapukur upazila. Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) set up the training centre in cooperation with the Army. GOC of Rangpur Cantonment Maj Gen Syed Fatemi Ahmed Rumi presided over the function.
Gen Moeen said, the country needs to raise food production to meet the shortfall.
"We will have additional yield of five lakh metric tons of food grains this year. The agriculture department, administration, armed forces and farmers have put up concerted efforts to raise the food production," he said.
"We have harvested a bumper crop of potato this season. Potato is a staple food and can substitute rice," said the General and advised for multiple use of potato as food item.
He had a word for farmers: Do not keep fallow an inch of arable land. Grow crops anywhere possible. The administration is there to extend all cooperation. You will be provided with all inputs.
Fertiliser and irrigation facilities will now be easily available to you. But food production has to be raised.
Pointing to the fisheries in Teesta irrigation canal, he said the armed forces helped in implementing the project where 600 families are now earning livelihood. Everyone should work. There can be no poverty in the country if 300 million hands of 150 million people are put to work. There will be no 'monga', no food problem if everybody works, he added.