He said, ‘many properties of the cooperative bank have been dispossessed. Those who were once in the bank are occupying these properties. Legal action is being taken against them. And after taking responsibility, I am looking at everything in detail. When I looked at the condition of the cooperative bank, I came to know that 12,000 loads of gold could not be found. In the meantime, a committee has been formed to investigate the matter. Legal action will be taken against those who are involved in this incident.
He said these things while addressing the chief guest at the annual planning conference organized at Mainamati Auditorium of Bangladesh Rural Development Academy (BARD) in Kotbari, Comilla on Sunday (September 29) afternoon.
Earlier, he inaugurated the two-day Bard’s 57th Annual Planning Conference. Hasan Arif, advisor of the cooperative department of his ministry, said, ‘Cooperatives are not able to stand, because there is a lack of cooperative mentality among the cooperatives. Those who are with the cooperative, they are only busy with the committee and coming in charge. But no work is being done for the welfare of cooperatives. Co-operatives only want to join the committee. But they do not aim at the development of cooperatives. Extensive reforms are needed in this field.’
Bird founder Dr. Hasan Arif said that Akhtar came to Bard to see the realization of Hamid Khan’s dream. He said that the philosophy of Akhtar Hamid Khan was cooperative, rural development, financial development of rural people. These are being researched and implemented by various institutions.
He said, ‘I see again in the ministry, where there is stagnation regarding these. If the Ministry can be connected with Bard’s thinking, we hope that there will be a speed of rural development. I don’t want rural development to be kept in files. So I am looking at everything in detail. Currently trying to find out how or where reforms are needed. I came to Bard today as a result of that.’
Secretary of Rural Development and Cooperative Department Mosammat Shahanara Khatun presided over the opening session of the conference. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Chairperson of BRAC, Bangladesh and Executive Chairman of Power and Participation Research Center (PPRC) and local government expert Professor Tofail Ahmed were present as special guests.
110 high and mid-level representatives of various government ministries, departments and international organizations participated in the planning conference. At the beginning of the program, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of those who died in the anti-discrimination student movement, and prayers and prayers were offered in respect to them.
Director General of Bard Saif Uddin Ahmed highlighted the current activities of Bard. He said, like in the past, Bard is working tirelessly to improve the fate of the people of the village. Bard has trained 8,341 people through a total of 195 courses including two international courses in the last financial year. Training at the national level includes basic training for BCS cadre officers, specialized basic training and training courses organized for grassroots beneficiaries of various projects.
Director General said that as part of the research program, Bard has completed 15 research projects in the last financial year. Five of these have been published as research papers. BARD is currently implementing CVDP Phase III project under the revenue sector of Govt. Apart from this, Bard is implementing 16 experimental research projects with its own funding. Director (Training) Abdullah Al Mamun is serving as the convener of Bard’s 57th Planning Conference.