President M Abdul Hamid said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working tirelessly to improve the fortunes of the underprivileged people of Bangladesh by keeping the ideals and principles of Bangabandhu and giving utmost importance to the cooperative sector.

He said this in a message issued on the occasion of the 35th Annual General Meeting of Bangladesh National Rural Development Cooperative Federation’ scheduled for Sunday, said a press release.

On this occasion, the president extended his sincere greetings and congratulations to the co-operatives of Bangladesh.

He said the basic foundation of cooperatives is unity and cooperation, and the role of cooperatives in employment generation and poverty alleviation is immense.

Realizing the importance, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman included cooperatives as the second sector of development based on ownership in the constitution of Bangladesh, he added.

President Abdul Hamid said through Bangabandhu Cooperative, poverty and unemployment will be removed from the society to create a happy and prosperous “Sonar Bangla” without exploitation.

The president said the history of cooperatives in this country is glorious.

The current agriculture-friendly government under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been supporting the cooperative sector for the development of agriculture and the country and is committed to providing all-out support in the future.

He expressed the hope that the cooperative leaders in the annual general meeting will be multifaceted in the cooperative arena.

He encouraged the people to form. 

Cooperatives have freed the poor oppressed farmers of this country from being swallowed up by moneylenders and revolutionized the agricultural sector. 

Cooperatives are also making important contributions in areas such as mass education, forestry, housing, transport, milk production, birth control policy, fisheries, the establishment of cooperative markets, etc, he added.

He said that the current agriculture-friendly government under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been supporting the cooperative sector for the development of agriculture and the country and is committed to providing all-out support in the future.

He expressed the hope that in the annual general meeting, the cooperative leaders would be able to advance the cooperative movement by adopting proper plans through mutual discussion and exchange of experience on the multifaceted activities of the cooperative arena.

He wished the success of the 35th Annual General Meeting of Bangladesh National Rural Development Cooperative Federation, said the press release.