C T Online Desk: Oct 12, 2026– Food Minister Afroza Khanam Rita today directed food department officials to procure paddy directly from genuine farmers, stressing that the practice was vital to ensuring their financial solvency.
“Prime Minister Tarique Rahman wants to ensure that farmers never find themselves in helpless situations,” she said.
The minister issued the directives while addressing a view-exchanging meeting with officials of the Chattogram District Food Department as the chief guest at the conference room of Chattogram Circuit House this morning.
“From now on, we should adopt a strategy to encourage farmers to bring their produce directly to government procurement centres. We will take all necessary steps to make this process easier for them,” she added.
“The government is exploring options to pay farmers through bKash or other suitable digital payment platforms to avoid the hassle of processing payments for their delivered agricultural products, including the need to open bank accounts,” she said.
She suggested that the digital payment system could initially be introduced on a trial basis in three districts and, if successful, expanded nationwide.
“Our primary goal is to maintain adequate food stocks. We must store quality rice and wheat in our godowns. As natural disasters can strike at any time, all of us must work together to maintain sufficient stocks to tackle such emergencies,” she added.
“The quality of imported rice must be strictly verified upon arrival at godowns,” she said, warning that consignments must not be accepted if their quality falls even slightly below the prescribed standards, as the ultimate accountability rests with the officials concerned.
The Minister added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had prioritised food-friendly programmes and fair prices for farmers in the election manifesto.
“We are working towards ensuring hygienic and safe food for the people in a timely manner,” she said.
The minister patiently listened to the demands and grievances raised by food department officials, saying that the ousted government had done nothing to resolve their long-standing problems over the past 17 years, although it could have done so.
“We are sincerely working to ensure justice for all and resolve all legitimate problems, but this cannot be done overnight,” she added.
The meeting was chaired by Chattogram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah. Director General of Food Jasim Uddin Khan, Deputy Director of the Local Government Division in Chattogram Monowara Begum and Additional Director General of Food Md. Jamal Hossain attended as special guests.
Upazila food controllers, officers-in-charge of Local Supply Depots (LSDs) and other officials from various upazilas of Chattogram district were present at the meeting.
