The Director General of International Rice Research Institute Dr Robert S Zeigler said Bangladesh has achieved tremendous success in poverty alleviation through rice research.

Dr Zeigler made this comment in a meeting on 8 March 2006 while he was visiting Bangladesh Rice Research Institute in Gazipur.

BRRI Director General Dr M Mahiul Haque presided over the meeting.

IRRI Representative for Bangladesh Dr Noel P Magor, Director of the Indonesian Centre for Food Crops Research and Development Dr Suyamto, IRRI Liaison Scientist Dr M A Hamid Miah, BRRI Director (Research) Dr M A Baqui, BRRI Director (Admin) Dr B A Mustafi, Senior Scientists and Officials including Divisional Heads of BRRI were also present.

IRRI DG was awarded a crest of honour on the occasion.

In the discussion meeting, Dr Zeigler also expressed that the greatest proof of Bangladesh's success in rice research is that the country is almost self-sufficient in rice production now.