President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday called for revitalising Bangladesh’s co-operative movement by reforming relevant laws, ensuring good governance and making co-operative organisations competitive with NGOs and other institutions.
He made the call while addressing a programme at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, marking 55th National Co-operative Day.
Recalling his childhood in Thakurgaon, the President said he had witnessed a vibrant co-operative movement there, with a co-operative building, cold storage and a large market that attracted prominent people of the town.
“Unfortunately, the co-operative movement has gradually declined. One of the main reasons, in my view, is corruption within co-operative organisations and their associations,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul said the co-operative movement had played an important role in Bangladesh’s history and recalled the emphasis placed on the issue by late President Ziaur Rahman as part of his vision of a self-reliant Bangladesh.
He also recalled the contribution of Dr Akhtar Hameed Khan, a pioneer of Bangladesh’s co-operative movement, saying Ziaur Rahman had brought him back to Bangladesh and sought to revive the model associated with the Cumilla co-operative movement.
The President said he had recently visited an academy in Bogura and had been pleased to see examples of successful co-operatives, including organisations that had built and successfully operated hospitals and undertaken housing projects.
He urged the government to review existing co-operative laws and make them more suitable for the present needs.
Mirza Fakhrul also identified the rapid growth of NGOs as another factor behind the decline of co-operatives.
He said co-operatives should be given the capacity to compete with NGOs and other successful organisations.
Mentioning the role of Bangladesh Milk Producer's Co-Operative Union Ltd (Milk Vita), the President said the organisation had contributed significantly to increasing dairy production and urged authorities to expand its market and product range.
He said products such as butter, cheese, ice cream and other dairy items produced by co-operatives should be promoted more effectively.
Noting that Amul in India has become highly successful through the co-operative movement and has reached international markets, Mirza Fakhrul said, “We should also explore how our co-operative products can be taken to wider markets.”
He said marketing remained one of the biggest challenges facing co-operative organisations and suggested establishing co-operative-based companies to help market their products.
The President urged the Department of Cooperatives and the ministry concerned to take initiatives to strengthen marketing facilities for co-operative products.
Referring to November 7, which Bangladesh observes as National Revolution and Solidarity Day, he said the country should move forward by overcoming the obstacles that have hindered its development.
Mirza Fakhrul said Bangladesh was currently facing various challenges, including an energy crisis, global conflicts, capital flight and problems in the banking and economic sectors.
“To overcome these challenges and move forward, we must remain united and leave behind the obstacles that stand in our way,” he said.
The President thanked members of the co-operative movement for keeping it alive and urged them not to merely preserve it but to take it forward.
He expressed hope that the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Co-operatives would be able to bring the co-operative movement back to the forefront.
“Reviving the co-operative movement is our sincere aspiration and the aspiration of the people. If that happens, our economy will become stronger,” Mirza Fakhrul said.
He also congratulated those who received awards at the programme and urged them to continue advancing their work.
LGRD and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam, the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry, the secretary of the Rural Development and Co-operatives Division, the president of Bangladesh National Co-operative Union, and the registrar and director general of the Department of Cooperatives, among others, attended the event.