A review on Bangabandhu and agriculture: Future path for self-sufficiency in food production of Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is one of the rabble rousing, undisputable and charismatic leaders in the global history. Due to his inherent and extra ordinary qualities he gained the trust, support and hope of the general peoples (East-Bengalis). This paper aims to review the key roles played by him for uplifting the agricultural sector of Bangladesh. Bangladesh wouldn’t become independent and a sovereign country without his bold contribution. After the bloody liberation war of 1971; the country had a poor and fragile economy and shortage of all sorts of basic needs specially food. After the formation of government, the leader took revolutionary steps for reformation of the agricultural sector of the country. From his intuition he felt that, for agricultural development and gaining self-sufficiency in food production; some major changes have to be done. Thus, he put special emphasis on agricultural education, research, extension, industries and markets; he also waived the taxes on agricultural lands. To encourage innovative and talented students to study agriculture; he upgraded the status of the agriculturists to first class officer. Bangabandhu’s vision was clear, challenging and reality based. He decorated the agricultural policies basing on the farmers and their economic conditions. The leader put special importance in practicing integrated agriculture so that we may get all types of food (cereal, pulse, oil, vegetable, fruits, fish, and livestock). Due to his dynamic efforts and future guidelines at that time (1972-1975); today Bangladesh has not only achieved food security but also became a role model for agricultural development globally. Through his ideology and principles Bangladesh is moving rapidly forward to become a developed country by 2041.