Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the current government, which assumed office in February 2026, has placed rural development at the centre of its agenda and undertaken a series of programmes for the overall welfare of rural people in line with its election manifesto, reports UNB.
He made the remarks while addressing a programme as the chief guest at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) auditorium in the capital, marking the organisation's 47th founding anniversary and the second World Rural Development Day.
"The development process must be inclusive, equitable and rural-centric. Genuine prosperity cannot be achieved if cities move ahead while villages are left behind," the minister said.
He said this year's observance of CIRDAP's 47th anniversary and the second World Rural Development Day is particularly significant as, for the first time, ambassadors and high commissioners from various countries in the Asia-Pacific region have participated in the event. Fakhrul said World Rural Development Day is observed every year on July 6. CIRDAP was established in 1979 through the initiative of Bangladesh, other countries in the region and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the day commemorates that milestone. He said Bangladesh is currently serving as the Chair of the CIRDAP Governing Council and has played a leading role in proposing UN recognition of the observance.
Highlighting CIRDAP's contributions, the minister said the organisation has played a significant role over the past five decades in promoting regional integration, reducing poverty and strengthening the capacity of its member states.
According to him, CIRDAP has implemented 215 research programmes and 350 capacity-building initiatives, while arranging training for more than 8,000 government officials.
Through its digital networks and publications, the organisation now reaches over 120,000 stakeholders, creating a bridge between policymaking and implementation, he added.
The minister said rural communities are now facing new challenges, including climate change, digital transformation, food security and youth unemployment.
To address these issues, he said, CIRDAP is taking a leading role in promoting climate-resilient agriculture and rural entrepreneurship.
He also said the organisation is expanding its regional activities by pursuing the inclusion of 40 more Asia-Pacific countries as members and strengthening partnerships with the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF).
As the host country, Bangladesh considers supporting CIRDAP both a responsibility and a matter of pride, he said, adding that since independence the country has emerged as a global model in rural development.
