Govt to introduce land use policy to save arable lands: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government is working to introduce land use policy so that no one can destroy the country's arable lands to establish factories.   

She said this while inaugurating a week-long development fair of Palli Karma Shayak Foundation (PKSF) at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. 

Bangladesh lost at least a quarter of her agricultural land over the last four decades. 

According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, between 1971-72 and 2010-11, the net cropped area "decreased by 4.9 percent which represents an annual average decline of about 0.5 percent." 

On November 6, the prime minister said that the government is going to "stop building industries here and there" to save arable lands for the sake of "ensuring food security for the 16 crore people." 

"The government is focusing on nutrition as the country has overcome food crisis. Creating awareness about nutrition is important now and the PKSF has been playing a key role in this sector," the prime minister said today at the PKSF fair.  

"Besides providing loans for small business, the PKSF is working in multiple sectors, including raising health awareness among the rural people," she said. 

"The PKSF has been helping senior citizens to improve their lifestyles," added Hasina.  

The fair will remain open from 10 am to 8.30 pm every day.  

A total of 130 organisations have set up 190 stalls in the fair.