NARAYANGANJ, June 19 (V7N)– Bangladesh is moving to enact a new law aimed at safeguarding the country's shrinking agricultural land from illegal occupation, according to Lieutenant General (Retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture. He made the announcement today following a visit to the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN) in Bishnandi, Araihazar.

"The size of agricultural land in the country is decreasing gradually due to illegal occupation," Chowdhury told reporters, emphasizing the urgency of the new legislation. In line with this, he revealed that the government has already instructed district administrations to remove unauthorized billboards, often placed on agricultural land under the guise of housing projects.

The Agriculture Adviser also shared positive news regarding the country's staple food production. He announced a "bumper Boro production" this year, stating, "Rice production has exceeded the demand by 1.5 million tonnes, and therefore, there will be no need to import rice from abroad." This surplus marks a significant achievement for Bangladesh's food security.

During his visit to BIRTAN, located in Bishnandi, Araihazar, the Adviser toured project sites and planted a sapling on the institute's premises. He was accompanied by BIRTAN Director Rehena Akter, Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Jahidul Islam Mia, and District Superintendent of Police Pratyush Kumar Majumdar, among others.

Earlier in the day, the Agriculture Adviser, who also holds charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs, visited the temporary office building of Araihazar police station, where he inquired about the overall law and order situation in the district.

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