Cooperatives can boost agri production: PM Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday stressed the need for cooperatives in every area throughout the country in order to boost agricultural production, alleviate poverty and create scope for micro-savings.

“Our (political) leaders should be sincere to enhance production, alleviate poverty and make arrangements for micro-savings through cooperatives in every area,” she said.

The premier said this while exchanging views with the members of Dariarkul Gram Unnayan Samity, a village-level cooperative society, at Tungipara Upazila Awami League Office in Gopalganj District.

She said her government has been implementing multifaceted programmes to make each of the countrymen economically solvent.

"We have been working to make each of the people financially solvent by taking up multi-dimensional programmes," she said.

The premier briefly highlighted her government’s different programmes including "My House, My Farm", Start-up programme, universal pension scheme and collateral-free bank loans for self-employment.

"We have taken many initiatives to improve the living standard of the people by stamping out poverty," she said.

The PM said if the programmes taken by her government are implemented properly none will remain poor in the country.

Sheikh Hasina, who is the adviser of the Dariarkul Gram Unnayan Samity appreciated the initiative of reviving the cooperatives system.

She asked the authorities concerned to spread the idea of forming cooperatives across Bangladesh to increase food production and thus make Bangladesh self-reliant.

The Dariarkul cooperative society has been built on 9.05 acre of land donated by Sheikh Hasina.

In the cooperatives system, the ownership of the land will not be changed, while the profit from the crops production on the land will be divided into three parts, she said.

Two shares of the profit will be given for the land owners and the farmers who give labour. The remaining share will be given to the fund of the cooperatives, she added.

The prime minister reiterated her call to bring every inch of land under cultivation to increase food production to cut dependency on others.

About the pension scheme, she said her government took the universal pension schemes for secured future life of the countrymen.

"We are not only working for the present but also for the future. The Universal Pension Scheme will secure future life of its beneficiaries," she said.

Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, urged her party members to join the universal pension scheme for betterment of their old-age life.

Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana was present at the event.

Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Kazi Mahbubul Alam moderated the view-exchange meeting.

Later, the prime minister distributed agricultural equipment and educational materials as well as financial grants among the poor and students.

The PM arrived at her ancestral home in Tungipara by road after crossing the Padma Bridge on Friday morning.

She paid tributes and offered prayers at the Mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The prime minister is scheduled to return to Dhaka this afternoon.