Agriculture and Accountability: BAJF Announces Ambitious 25-Day Agenda
To mark its 25th founding anniversary, the Bangladesh Agricultural Journalists Forum (BAJF) has unveiled a 25-day programme aimed at bringing the nation’s agricultural economy under structured political commitment. Among the key initiatives, the organization will host a three-day International Agriculture and Food Conference. At the same time, BAJF plans to begin the process of declaring the country’s first “adulteration-free and counterfeit-free agricultural input zone” at the upazila level—a pioneering move in the age of modern technology. BAJF President Sahanowar Said Shaheen stated that technical expertise and sustainable methods are already being developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
He added that various seminars and symposiums focusing on forward-looking agricultural economics will be held throughout the 25-day programme.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, 16 November, at the Cotton Development Board’s conference room in Dhaka, Shaheen said in a written statement that since its establishment in 2000, BAJF has consistently worked on agricultural journalism, farmers’ rights, and food policy. No other journalist organisation in the country has undertaken a programme of this scale, he noted. BAJF is also the only journalist body in Bangladesh with membership in the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ).
The centerpiece of the 25-day programme will be the three-day international conference and training workshop. Spread across six sessions, the events will center on the primary theme: “Political Commitment to Agriculture and Food.” The three core seminars will address: nutrition security and the fisheries–livestock sector; banking in rural and economic development, including investment in the agriculture and food sectors; and trade and diplomacy in food and agriculture.
Shaheen said, “There has long been a lack of political commitment in the areas of agriculture and food. We do not know whether we will be able to correct our politicians, but we will clearly point out where change is needed.” He added that high-ranking government officials, advisers, senior leaders of political parties, and representatives from various sectors have already agreed to participate in every session. He further noted that despite farmers frequently suffering losses from adulterated and counterfeit agricultural inputs, no area has yet been declared counterfeit-free. “We aim to implement this initiative in coordination with the government and international organizations.”
He also highlighted a special initiative titled “Journalists at Farmers’ Doorstep,” through which journalists from six geographic regions of the country will visit farms directly to hear farmers’ concerns firsthand.
BAJF General Secretary Abu Khalid told the press conference that the most important factor in making any conference successful is ensuring the participation of all relevant stakeholders. “With that philosophy in mind, we have structured our international conference. Focusing on agriculture’s three major sectors—crops, fisheries–livestock, and food—we have designed a three-day programme. Our main goal is to create a platform where government and private entrepreneurs, farmers, and policymakers can present their views together.”
He added that such a broad-based, international-standard event centered on agriculture is unprecedented in Bangladesh. Although Bangladesh is an agriculture-based country, complaints persist about the neglect of agriculture and farmers. Issues such as farmers not receiving fair prices, market cycle problems, and shortages of inputs will be highlighted prominently at the conference.
Vice Presidents Yasir Wardad and A N M Mohibub Uz Zaman, Joint General Secretary Emdadul Huq Tuhin, Assistant Organizational Secretaries Altaf Hossain and Afsana Mimi, Programme Secretary Saleh Muhammad Rashid Olok, and Publication Secretary Asaduzzaman Noor were also present at the press conference.
DBTech/RO/IK/OR
