State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku on Sunday called for collective efforts to ensure the country's overall development and progress, saying everyone must put Bangladesh first. He made the call while addressing a discussion at Shaheed Smriti Poura Udyan in Tangail town on Sunday morning, marking the 55th National Cooperatives Day.
Quoting the prime minister's slogan, “We will work, we will build the country, Bangladesh comes first,” Tuku said everyone must work together, keeping the country's interests at heart, to build a prosperous and peaceful Bangladesh. He also stressed that people from all walks of life must fulfil their responsibilities and work towards building a drug-free society.
Highlighting the role of cooperatives, the state minister called for establishing small cooperative societies at the grassroots level to organize people and strengthen their economic position. Cooperatives can promote mutual cooperation, unity, and self-reliance while playing a vital role in improving rural living standards and creating employment opportunities, he noted.
Later in the program, Tuku distributed loan cheques among cooperative members and visited a fair showcasing cooperative products.
Why it matters
The promotion of grassroots cooperatives directly impacts rural economic development and employment generation across Bangladesh.