Don\\\'t undermine agriculture: PM

Young people should be encouraged to take up agriculture to reduce Bangladesh’s dependency on food import, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in Dhaka one day before leaving for London to attend the first-ever Girl Summit. The two-day Girl Summit will begin in the British capital on Tuesday. Speaking to top officials of the Agriculture Ministry on Sunday, Sheikh Hasina said: ‘It is essential to change the mindset of the youths who are indifferent towards farming. Various types of edible oil were once produced and used in Bangladesh,’ the prime minister recalled, adding that she wished those days of yesteryears to return. ‘Oil from sesame, mustard and nuts were used in the past. Why do we only use imported soyabean oil now? I hope we need not have to bring edible oil from abroad.’ Agriculture is vital and sacred and its importance must be emphasized in text books to attract the future generation, she added, according to a news agency.