Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid on Tuesday indicated that government support for research activities will be expanded in the coming years, stressing that sustainable national progress depends heavily on innovation and scientific inquiry.
Speaking at the closing workshop of the “Buffalo Research and Development” project at the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) in Savar, the minister said no nation can achieve meaningful advancement without investing in research. He assured researchers that the government remains willing to provide financial support, provided the research conducted is effective, relevant and capable of producing practical outcomes.
Addressing the workshop as the chief guest, Amin Ur Rashid highlighted the untapped potential of buffalo farming in Bangladesh. He noted that buffalo milk plays an important role in the dairy industries of many developed countries and suggested that Bangladesh could benefit from expanding buffalo-based livestock activities, particularly in char and saline-prone regions where traditional crop cultivation is often limited.
The minister said the cultivation of salt-tolerant grasses suitable for coastal and char lands could create new opportunities for buffalo rearing. He also warned that increasing pressure on agricultural land in the future would require more research into efficient and profitable livestock farming methods that use limited space.
Earlier, the minister visited BLRI’s goat research farm, where he underscored the importance of the Black Bengal Goat, describing it as a valuable symbol of Bangladesh’s agricultural heritage. He expressed the government’s interest in promoting the breed nationwide through improved farming practices and research.
Amin Ur Rashid also encouraged educated unemployed youths to become entrepreneurs in the livestock sector by investing in Black Bengal Goat farming. Such initiatives, he said, could generate employment opportunities while strengthening the country’s livestock industry.
The workshop was chaired by BLRI Director General Dr Shakila Faruk. Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md Delwar Hossain and AK Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan attended as special guests, while Directorate of Livestock Director General Shah Zaman Khan joined as guest of honour. Project Director and BLRI Chief Scientific Officer Gautam Kumar Dev presented the project's achievements and progress.
