With a vision to build a technology-driven, modern agriculture system in Bangladesh, young officers of the BCS Agriculture Cadre organized a forward-looking seminar titled "Agri Frontiers 2025: Empowering Youth and Technology for the Future of Agriculture" on Friday, 25 July 2025. The event, held at the Cotton Development Board’s conference hall in Dhaka, was organized by the Young Agriculture Cadre Officers Forum (YACOF) and saw participation from over 300 agriculture officers from the 38th to 43rd BCS batches.
Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), agriculturist Md. Saiful Alam, attended as the chief guest. In his remarks, he emphasized leveraging the opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to build a productive, modern, and sustainable agriculture sector in Bangladesh. He also addressed the imbalance in benefits and recognition faced by agriculture officers, despite their unwavering dedication in the field. "While agricultural officers serve in rain and sun to ensure continuous food production, they are often deprived of fair benefits compared to other cadres," he said, assuring that efforts will be made to resolve these issues through dialogue with authorities.
Among other notable speakers were Ahmed Ali Chowdhury Iqbal, Secretary General of the Retired BCS Agriculture Association; Md. Abdur Rahim, Director of Plant Quarantine Wing; S M Sohrab Uddin, Director of Horticulture Wing; Dr. Md. Hazrat Ali, Acting Director of Crops Wing; Dr. Md. Zakir Hossain, Additional Director of Dhaka Region; Dr. Mohammad Kazi Mojibur Rahman, Additional Director of Admin and Finance Wing; Md. Nure Alam Siddiqui, Deputy Director (Pesticide Administration); Md. Muradul Hasan, Deputy Director (Admin); Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Deputy Director of Legal and Support Services; Abul Kalam Azad, Program Coordinator of the PARTNER project; K M Badrul Haque, Project Director of two Agricultural Training Institutes; and Boni Amin Khan, Additional Deputy Director (Import) of Plant Quarantine Wing.
YACOF Secretary Agriculturist Mainuddin Saad delivered the welcome speech, stressing that agriculture today is no longer just a field-based profession but a multidimensional sector involving research, technology, and global standards. "This seminar was designed to promote leadership, innovation, and the integration of advanced technologies among young agricultural professionals," he said.
Following the welcome address, three technical papers were presented on intergenerational collaboration, innovation as a driving force, and the transformation of agriculture. The sessions focused on how emerging technologies can increase productivity, how youth can be empowered as agri-entrepreneurs, and how agriculture can become a commercially viable sector.
An open discussion followed under the theme "Youth and Technology for the Future of Agriculture," where officers from multiple batches shared their field experiences, discussed challenges, and exchanged ideas for future initiatives.
In his closing remarks, YACOF President Agriculturist Md. Emaz Uddin stated, "This seminar is not a one-time event but part of an ongoing intellectual movement. We aim to build young agriculturists not only as officers, but also as visionary leaders, researchers, and innovators."
YACOF, comprising over 800 officers from the 38th, 40th, 41st, and 43rd BCS batches serving in various districts and upazilas, continues to work for the advancement of agriculture and the rights and recognition of agricultural cadre officers in Bangladesh.
