The vibrant atmosphere of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, organized by Bangla Academy, witnessed a notable moment on Thursday, (26 February 2026). The Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Mr. Tarique Rahman MP, visited the stall of the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), accompanied by members of his family.
Representatives of SAC warmly welcomed the Prime Minister and presented him with a token gift consisting of the Centre’s recent publications. The books reflect SAC’s ongoing research, regional programs and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening agricultural cooperation among the SAARC member states.
During the interaction, Dr. AHM Taslima Akhter, Senior Technical Officer of SAC and Mr. Md. Abul Bashar, Senior Program Officer (Pub.), briefed the Prime Minister on the Centre’s current activities and its strategic focus. They highlighted SAC’s work in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, food and nutrition security, sustainable resource management and regional knowledge and information exchange. The discussion also touched on the present scenario of SAARC cooperation and the importance of revitalizing collaborative agricultural efforts in South Asia.
The Prime Minister listened with keen interest and expressed his appreciation for SAC’s contributions to agricultural research, development and regional partnership. He acknowledged the vital role of agriculture in ensuring food security and sustaining rural livelihoods across the region. Reaffirming his commitment to regional cooperation, he assured that Bangladesh would continue to play a proactive role in advancing SAARC initiatives alongside its national development priorities.
Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director of SAARC Agriculture Centre, expressed his gratitude to the Honorable Prime Minister for visiting the SAC stall at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair. He described the visit as a proud moment for the Centre, noting that it provided an opportunity to share SAC’s ongoing activities and regional initiatives with the Prime Minister. He also stated that SAARC Agriculture Centre remains firmly committed to advancing agricultural development across the SAARC member states through research, development, knowledge and information exchange and strengthened regional cooperation.
