Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday provided Tk12 crore in incentives to 38,970 sugarcane farmers in the Rajshahi region to support sugarcane cultivation.
He digitally transferred the money to the farmers’ mobile accounts by pressing a button on a computer at a public rally at Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School ground in the city.
“Now I will press a button on the computer. Within a few minutes of pressing it, the government’s assistance for you, sugarcane farmers, will reach your accounts, Insha Allah,” the Prime Minister said before initiating the transfer.
He said the government had allocated Tk12 crore to support sugarcane farmers, adding that the assistance would reach 38,970 growers. “I hope this assistance will help farmers cultivate sugarcane,” he said.
The Prime Minister pressed the button after saying “Alhamdulillah”. Thousands of people attending the rally joined in saying “Bismillah” and expressed their enthusiasm.
Tarique Rahman also handed over cheques to 15 sugarcane farmers at the programme.
The recipients were Abu Sayed Chan, Abdul Awal Malek, Abdul Mannan Mondal, Emaz Uddin, Md Kahar, Golam Rabbani, Sabita Rani, Jalal Uddin Mridha, Ziaul Haque, Mohidul Islam, Abdul Mazed, Nirand Kumar Ghosh, Shamimur Rahman, Rima Khatun and Rafiqul Islam.
The rally was chaired by BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and attended by thousands of party leaders and activists from different units of Rajshahi district, along with members of the Hindu community.
The Prime Minister reached the rally venue at 3:25pm, where BNP leaders, activists and supporters welcomed him.
BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Industries Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rehan Asif Asad, Rajshahi City Corporation Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton, Rajshahi-2 lawmaker Mizanur Rahman Minu, Rajshahi-3 lawmaker Advocate Shafiqul Haque Milon, Rajshahi-5 lawmaker Professor Nazrul Islam, Rajshahi-6 lawmaker Abu Sayeed Chand, reserved-seat lawmaker Mahmuda Habiba and Rajshahi Development Authority Chairman Abul Kalam Azad Sweet, among other central and local leaders, were present on the occasion.
After the rally, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the Durga Puja mandap at Rajshahi Dharmasabha Temple to exchange greetings and hold an interaction with members of the Sanatan community.
He is scheduled to leave Rajshahi for Chattogram after completing his programmes in the city.