Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that it was unfortunate that Bangladesh had not been able to extract resources from the deep sea although it had attained vast maritime territories.

‘Actually we are not getting any entrepreneurs for this purpose. This is the reality,’ she said.

The PM said this while addressing the inaugural session of the Livestock Services Week and Fair to promote poultry and the dairy farmers and development of the sector.

The Department of Livestock Services of the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry organised the two-day fair at the old Trade Fair Ground at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar beside the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Hasina said that Bangladesh had attained huge maritime boundaries and to utilise the marine resources it has also announced a plan for blue economy.

‘But it is unfortunate that we have not been able to extract resources from the deep sea,’ she said.

She said that the prime aim of her government was to ensure food security first then ensure nutrition.

‘…and we have taken that step. We have given priority to research as it is not possible to produce high yield varieties without it,’ she said.

She also mentioned that the government was working to mechanise agriculture and for that a special attention had been given on this issue, including providing subsidies.

‘Besides, we have taken huge programmes to increase the production of protein in the country,’ she said.

She put emphasis on more research works as no country can advance without it.

PM Hasina also emphasised on improving the storage capacity of all kinds of products including food grains, and fish and meat items for ensuring food security.

She asked the people concerned to provide safe food to the fisheries and livestock for making food safe for humans.

She encouraged the private sector to step forward for improving poultry, fisheries and livestock items in the country.

‘The government will provide all kinds of support,’ she said.

She asked to follow international norms in packaging along with cleanliness in agricultural production and its processing.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdur Rahman and Fisheries, BPIC joint convenor Moshiur Rahman, BDFA president Mohammad Imran Hossain and Livestock secretary Md Selim Uddin also spoke.

A documentary on the development of the country’s livestock sector was also screened at the programme.