State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Monday said the government plans to build a strong rural economic framework by bringing together 41 lakh family card holders and 43 lakh farmer card holders.
“The government has launched a number of initiatives, including the introduction of Family Cards and Farmer Cards, canal re-excavation at the grassroots level and expanded educational programmes, to strengthen the rural economy,” he said.
The state minister was addressing a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, marking National Rural Development Day 2026.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended the programme as the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Mir Shahe Alam said, "All sectors related to rural development would be mobilised at the grassroots level to take the rural economy to a new height.”
Addressing officials and employees of the Rural Development Division, he stated that the government has made their task easier by setting clear targets for the current fiscal year.
“The target is to bring 41 lakh women, who are heads of low-income families, under the Family Card programme and organise them into cooperative societies,” he said.
He said, “43 lakh farmers would also receive farmer cards and financial support during the current fiscal year, urging officials to organise the cardholders into strong grassroots networks.”
Recalling the rural development initiatives launched by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and later continued by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, the state minister mentioned, "The government wants to revive a model of village-based development built on effective cooperatives, sound rural management and social unity.”
“We want a green revolution in rural development. We want to restore that spirit of cooperation, development and unity in villages,” he added.
The programme was chaired by Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Secretary Shawkat Rashid Chowdhury.
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