Gear up cooperative movement: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saturday called upon the authorities concerned to work with utmost sincerity to gear up the cooperative movement in the country to build a self-reliant and prosperous Bangladesh, reports UNB. "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 Prime Minister was addressing a function marking the 40th National Cooperatives Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at noon. The United Nations and the International Cooperative Organisation declared the year 2012 as the Cooperative Year. Hasina said the cooperative movement has to be integrated utilisng all potentials and available resources. The PM expressed her hope that over 9.0 million members of 0.177 million 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 per cent of packet liquid milk of the country 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 cooperative management in the country should be strengthened. Hasina said her government waived the agriculture loan of Tk 5000 from each of the members of cooperatives society giving Tk 4.25 billion in subsidies. She suggested the members to try to pay their loan timely. 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 cooperative-based organisations," she said describing the strategy of the cooperative movement. Presided over by Cooperatives Division Secretary Dr Mihir Kanti Mazumder, the function was addressed, among others, by LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam and State Minister Adv Jahangir Kabir Nanok. Later, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Cooperatives Fairs organised at all district and upazila levels across the country as well as the fair organised on the premises of Cooperative Building in the capital simultaneously. She talked to some of the participants of the fair at Agargaon through a videoconference. She also inaugurated the Online Cooperative Bazar pressing a computer button. The Prime Minister distributed national Cooperatives Award 2009 and 2010 among 18 individuals and 20 cooperative societies. Hasina witnessed a colourful cultural function performed by the members of various cooperative societies.