"We want to give priority to both rural and urban areas for overall development of the country. We have to improve the standard of various services provided by the government in rural areas. So, we need cooperation from all," he said.
The minister was speaking at 4th South Asia Economic Network Conference -Subnational finance and local service delivery held at a hotel in the city.
The Minister said that once there was a huge gap between rural and urban areas and now it has changed to a great extent.
"There are various problems including pure drinking water, quality education, sanitation, infrastructures, and poverty in rural areas of the country. So we have to develop local government activities," Mannan said.
Dr Selim Raihan, executive director of South Asia Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM) and Dhaka University Economic Department professor, gave welcome speech at the event.
Dr Hans Timmer, South Asia Chief Economist of World Bank (WB) and Dr Mercy MiyangTembon, WB country Director for Bangladesh, also spoke there.
Meanwhile, former governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Atiur Rahman moderated another session on local government finances and service delivery.