The Prime Minister said this while addressing the 45th National Cooperatives Day at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
Describing the negative aspects of the microcredit system, Sheikh Hasina said people either commit suicide or become fugitive or turn penniless after selling home, land and everything what they have after being failed to endure the burden of microcredit.
“To save people from such worrisome situation, we’re moving towards micro-savings from the microcredit, particularly in poultry, cattle, food and agro-processing, fisheries, dairy farms, social afforestation, and such other sectors,” she said.
Hasina said the government wants to make the country free from oppression and deprivation. “We want to materialise the dream of the Father of the Nation...we’re working on that direction, we’re implementing various programmes through a cooperative movement.”
In the ‘one house one farm’ project, the Prime Minister said, people can take loan from the government for their own entrepreneurship and can save Tk 200 with the same amount from the government. “This system can be applicable for two years, not for the whole life,” she said mentioning that this savings will be kept in Palli Sanchay Bank.
After two years, she said, one can continue his or her business or entrepreneurship with the savings without depending on others. “By this person will ultimately contribute towards eradicating poverty from the country and we’re all working on that goal.”
The Prime Minister directed all concerned to accomplish responsibilities with dedication from their respective positions to nurture cooperatives and make it more dynamic to achieve the country’ s desired socio-economic development.
Turning to allegations about the effectiveness of cooperatives, she said the authorities concerned of the past were responsible for this because of their negligence.
Basting the governments of that periods, she said there would not been any such accusation had they accomplished their duties properly.
About development, she said steps have also been taken to industrialise the country in a planned manner and her government would not allow anyone to set up industries here and there.
She said the government has been working to establish 100 economic zones where local and foreign investors could set up their industries.
Stressing the importance of taking productive activities, Hasina said initiatives have been taken to develop small, medium and big industries by attracting local and foreign investments.
Industries need to be established keeping in mind the demand of products required in respective zones and that all concerned will have to be attentive to earning foreign currency exporting products after meeting the local demand.
She also urged industry owners to come forward to build dormitories or hostels for their industry workers with bank loans at only 2 percent interest and ensure secure living place for them.
Mentioning her government’s success in digitisation, Hasina said most of the services like product marketing are being done onnline while skilled manpower created through necessary training on various trades.
She urged the authorities concerned to look for newer markets and produce goods considering the demand of foreign markets and boost the export of Bangladeshis products to different parts of the world.
Earlier, the Prime Minister distributed National Cooperatives Award-2014 among 10 individuals and cooperative Samities in 10 different categories for their outstanding contributions to cooperatives. Each of the awardees received a gold medal and a citation from the Prime Minister.
The theme of the day this year is ‘The philosophy of cooperatives is sustainable development’.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on LGRD and Cooperatives Ministry Abul Hasnat Abdullah, State Minister Mosiur Rahman Ranga, Chairman of Bangladesh Cooperatives Union Sheikh Nadir Hossain Lipu, Registrar and Director General of the Department of Cooperatives Mofizul Islam also spoke at the programme, held with Rural development and Cooperatives division secretary Dr Prashanta Kumar Roy in the chair.
