Intensify cooperatives movement
PM asks authorities
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at a function marking the 40th National Cooperatives Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city yesterday. PHOTO: PID
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the authorities concerned to work with utmost sincerity to gear up the cooperatives movement in the country to build a self-reliant and prosperous Bangladesh. “If we can inspire people and put them on the right path providing them with all facilities and mechanism, Inshallah the economic scenario of the whole Bangladesh will be changed,” she said. The premier was addressing a function marking the 40th National Cooperatives Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. The United Nations and the International Cooperatives Organisation declared the year 2012 as the Cooperatives Year. Hasina said the cooperatives movement has to be integrated utilisng all potentials and available resources. Disagreeing with the 'experts' regarding the liquidity crisis, she said there is no liquidity crisis in the country now. She also criticised those sitting in air-conditioned offices and rooms are writing about electricity crisis. “We're working to remove the crisis. We have so far been able to add some 2400 MW of power in the last 34 months. It's very easy to write about electricity crisis sitting in air-conditioned rooms,” Hasina said. The PM expressed her hope that over 90 lakh members of 1.77 lakh cooperatives societies of the country could easily change the living standard of people if all work together. She mentioned that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had realised the necessity of cooperatives and given it constitutional recognition laying emphasis on proper distribution of wealth and alleviation of poverty. Bangabandhu at his own initiative established the milk-producing cooperative society 'Milk Vita' to reduce the dependence for child food on other countries, and now 60 percent of packet liquid milk is being supplied by the institution, Hasina said. Referring to the successes of cooperatives societies in various economic activities, including increasing agricultural production, marketing of products, cottage industry and insurance across the globe, the premier said the institutions run under cooperatives management in the country should be strengthened. Hasina said her government waived the agriculture loan of Tk 5,000 from each of the members of cooperatives society giving Tk 425 crore in subsidies. She suggested the members to try to pay their loan timely. Hasina said her government under its 'Ashrayan Project' rehabilitated over 50,000 families during its previous term. “The people under the project will be provided with loan and training to be self-reliant,” she said. Hasina further said the government is implementing 'One House: One farm' programme to build a self-reliant and production-oriented Bangladesh. “Every inch of fallow land in rural areas will be cultivated under the One House: One Farm Programme and the produces of these farms would be marketed through cooperatives-based organisations,” she said, describing the strategy of the cooperatives movement. Hasina said the demand and the prices of the processed foods are high abroad and advised people to process various food items, including fish and vegetables under cooperatives society to enlarge the country' s export basket. Presided over by Cooperatives Division Secretary Dr Mihir Kanti Mazumder, the function was addressed also by LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam and State Minister Adv Jahangir Kabir Nanak. Later, the premier inaugurated the Cooperatives Fairs organised at district and upazila levels across the country as well as the fair organised on the premises of Cooperatives Building in the city simultaneously. She talked to some of the participants of the Cooperatives Fair at Agargaon through a videoconference. She also inaugurated the Online Cooperatives Bazar pressing a computer button. Hasina distributed national Cooperatives Award 2009 and 2010 among 18 individuals and 20 cooperatives societies. Hasina witnessed a colourful cultural function performed by the members of various cooperatives societies.
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