Cooperatives Can Empower 18 Crore People to Become Self-Reliant: Rizvi
BNP Acting Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said the cooperative movement needs to be strengthened further to boost the rural economy. He said, “The basic philosophy of cooperatives is for people to work together in pursuit of their economic and social interests.”
He added that farmers often fail to receive fair prices for their produce because of middlemen, while consumers have to pay higher prices. Cooperatives can reduce dependence on these intermediaries and end economic deprivation in rural areas. “It is possible to make the country’s 180 million people self-reliant through cooperatives,” he said.
Mr. Rizvi made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion marking the 55th National Cooperative Day at the Kalb Resort and Convention Hall in Kaliganj upazila of Gazipur on Sunday (November 8). The event was organised by the upazila administration and the Department of Cooperatives.
The programme was chaired by Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer ATM Kamrul Islam. Special guests included Gazipur-5 MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment AKM Fazlul Haque Milon, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Md Nurul Karim Bhuiyan, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development and Human Resource Management) Tania Tabassum, Upazila BNP Convener Md Humayun Kabir Master and Member Secretary Khalequzzaman Bablu.
Mr. Rizvi said the cooperative movement began in England in 1844, while a similar system known as the village association had existed in the country’s own history. At that time, villages were self-sufficient, and people did not have to pay taxes to emperors or kings, he said.
Small traders, farmers and workers used to deposit their money in village associations and borrow capital from them when needed. However, the self-sufficient village system was disrupted after the British introduced their European system in the country. A modern cooperative system later developed through the cooperative movement, which continues today, he added.
Mr. Rizvi said it was possible to build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh on the foundation of cooperatives. The event was moderated by Jasmin Akter, an official in charge of the Upazila Women Affairs Organisation. Upazila Cooperative Officer Ataur Rahman delivered the welcome address.
Augustine Purification, chairman of The Co-operative Credit Union League of Bangladesh Ltd (CCULB), officials from various departments of the upazila administration, cooperative society members and journalists from print and electronic media were also present.
