51st National Cooperatives Day observed

The 51st National Cooperatives Day was observed across the country on Saturday with the theme ‘Philosophy of Bangabandhu, Development in Cooperatives’.

In Gazipur, Minister for Liberation War Affairs AKM Mozammel Haque attended a meeting organised by the Gazipur District Cooperative Office on the occasion of National Cooperative Day at Shahid Ahsan Ullah Master Auditorium on Saturday.

He said 90 per cent of cooperative societies exist only on paper, which does not exist in reality. Loans are taken through these non-existent associations, many members do not even know about the loan withdrawal.

The MP further said most of these cooperative societies perish in the field due to a lack of integrity in leadership as they do not grasp the concept of association properly.

“The three important elements of a cooperative society are competent leadership, proper planning and ensuring accountability,” Mozammel Haque said.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam, Gazipur Sadar Upazila Chairman Advocate Reena Parveen, Gazipur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Syed Morad Ali were present as special guests at the programme.

In Narail, the district administration and the Department of Cooperative chalked out elaborate programmes marking the day.

On the occasion, a colourful rally was brought out from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office premises which paraded the important streets in the town and ended up coming at the same place in the morning.

Later, a discussion was held in the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Habibur Rahman addressed the function as the chief guest with District Cooperative officer Md Aslam Ali in the chair.

Nezarat Deputy Collector (NDC) Md Ashif Uddin Miah, District Cooperatives officer Md Aslam Ali, Sadar upazila vice chairman Esmot Ara and cooperatives personalities, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Administrative officials and others concerned in Rajshahi came up with the observation of the day while addressing a post-rally discussion in Rajshahi city calling for finding effective ways and means to attain strength and prosperity in every sphere of national life and for making the cooperatives movement a total success.

In Rajshahi, the divisional and district administrations and the Department of Cooperatives jointly organised the discussion at Shilpakala Academy Auditorium in the city to mark the 51st National Cooperatives Day 2022.

Commissioner of Rajshahi division GSM Zafarullah addressed the discussion as chief guest, while Deputy Commissioner Abdul Jalil was in the chair.

Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police Rashdul Hassan and Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Bijoy Basak spoke as special guests, while Joint-registrar of the department of cooperatives Abdul Mazid welcomed the participants.

District Cooperatives Officer Saidur Rahman and two cooperative leaders Mijanur Rahman and Ayesha Islam also spoke.

Commissioner Zafarullah stressed the need for strengthening the cooperatives movement everywhere in society, mentioning that cooperatives can play a big role in the country’s development.

He added that if the cooperatives’ movement can be carried out properly, then the country will develop faster to materialise the spirit of the War of Liberation and ensure social security.

The chief guest also emphasized the importance of training youths to be good human resources to potentially end unemployment in the region.

He, however, said rural people have started reaping enormous benefits from cooperative activities to enhance productivity in every sector to cut poverty and achieve self-reliance.

On the occasion, some of the cooperative men and women were given prizes for their laudable contributions to the field of promoting cooperatives.

In Shariatpur, the district administration and the Department of Cooperative chalked out elaborate programmes marking the day.

A discussion meeting was held in the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office under the auspices of the district administration and district cooperative department this morning.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Gazi Shariful Hasan addressed the meeting as the chief guest with District Cooperative Officer Abdul Qayyum in the chair. The speakers said that one of the development philosophies of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu was ‘cooperative’. The present government is working on the development of cooperatives. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working tirelessly to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.