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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday outlined a seven point strategy to modernise country’s agriculture sector, while also updating lawmakers on a nationwide measles vaccination campaign and efforts to recover billions in laundered funds.Addressing parliament during question hour, chaired by Major (retd) Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, Tarique said agriculture remains vital to food security, poverty reduction and economic growth but faces mounting strain from climate change, population pressure and shrinking farmland.
In response to a question from Tangail 6 MP Rabiul Alam, the prime minister detailed a reform package designed to make farming more sustainable and profitable. Central to the plan is the phased rollout of Farmer Cards, launched on April 14, which are expected to reach 27.5 million farmers.
The cards will connect farmers to 10 services, including subsidised inputs, low cost machinery, irrigation support, and easier access to loans, crop insurance, training and digital updates on weather and market conditions.
The strategy also calls for expanded modern irrigation, bringing fallow land back under cultivation and introducing crop zoning to match production with soil and climate conditions.
Tarique said the government aims to diversify output beyond rice into fruits, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, spices and flowers, while ensuring greater transparency in subsidies through card based systems.
Plans are underway to expand low interest agricultural credit and crop insurance, develop cold storage and warehouse infrastructure and distribute preservation equipment for perishable goods. Research institutions such as the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture have been tasked with developing high yielding, disease resistant and short duration crop varieties.
Tarique added that the government will promote climate smart farming by reducing water use and limiting chemical fertilisers and pesticides, supported by prepaid metering and mobile farm applications. A separate five year programme to excavate and re excavate 20000 kilometres of canals is intended to strengthen irrigation coverage.
For fiscal year 2025 to 2026, 7 billion taka has been allocated for agricultural rehabilitation, with over 4 billion already released to assist 2.522 million small and marginal farmers through free seeds and fertiliser.
During the same session, Tarique responded to concerns over a recent measles outbreak raised by Gazipur 4 MP Salahuddin Ahmed. He acknowledged that a number of children had died and said the government was working to stabilise the situation.
According to the prime minister, measles vaccine imports were neglected for several years, including during the interim administration, exacerbating the outbreak. With support from UNICEF, Bangladesh has since secured sufficient doses to vaccinate nearly 20 million children. Additional testing kits have arrived, with more awaiting clearance at the airport.
In a separate written response to Munshiganj 3 MP Md Kamruzzaman, Tarique said his government is pursuing 11 priority cases to recover assets allegedly laundered abroad during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates.
Citing findings from a white paper committee formed under the interim government, he said an estimated 234 billion dollars was illicitly transferred out of Bangladesh between 2009 and 2023, averaging 16 billion dollars annually.
An inter agency taskforce led by the governor of Bangladesh Bank has been established to coordinate recovery efforts. Eleven Joint Investigation Teams headed by the Anti Corruption Commission, with participation from the Criminal Investigation Department and revenue intelligence bodies, are currently probing the cases.
As of 25 March 2026, courts have ordered the freezing or attachment of assets worth 57168.09 crore taka within Bangladesh and 13278.13 crore taka abroad, bringing the total restrained amount to 70446.22 crore taka. Authorities have filed 141 money laundering cases, submitted charge sheets in 15 and secured verdicts in six.
Tarique said Bangladesh is strengthening cooperation with key destination countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Malaysia, Hong Kong and the UAE have agreed to sign mutual legal assistance agreements, while discussions continue with others.
To reinforce the recovery process, a Stolen Asset Recovery Division was established under the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit in February 2026. The prime minister said publishing a comprehensive white paper on corruption and illicit financial flows during the previous administration remains a priority, alongside pursuing legal action against those identified.
