Photo : BSS

RANGPUR, Nov 1, 2025 (BSS) - Cooperative societies are working collectively for the socio-economic development of the country and contributing to building a cooperative-based and non-discriminatory society to ensure the welfare of all citizens.
 
The observation came today at a discussion organised by Divisional Cooperatives Office at the Divisional Commissioner's conference room in observance of the 54th National Cooperative Day- 2025 in the city.
 
Divisional Director of the Local Government Division Md Abu Jafar launched observance of the day by hoisting the national flag and cooperative flag at the Divisional Commissioner's office premises.
 
Government officials, members of various cooperative associations at the upazila level and journalists were present at the event. 
 
Later, the Divisional Director of the Local Government Division attended the discussion as the chief guest with Divisional Joint Registrar Md Masud Parvez in the chair. 
 
Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal, Police Superintendent (Traffic and Operations) at DIG Rangpur Range BM Ashraful Ullah Taher, Rangpur Regional Cooperative Institute Principal (Deputy Registrar) Md Sumon Ahmed spoke as special guests. 
 
The speakers said that cooperative organizations can help rural people achieve self-reliance through self-employment, small-scale enterprises, handicrafts and cottage industries by strengthening cooperative activities and skill development. 
 
The chief guest said that along with being self-reliant, the members of the cooperative societies develop themselves as responsible towards others. 
 
There is negligible consensus among the cooperatives and among many associations, and many have strayed away from the basic principles of the associations. So the associations are not developing properly. 
 
"The status of the associations should be changed by utilizing the rules of the associations," he said. 
 
The overall cooperation of the cooperative officers should be increased after reviewing various problems including investment and debt management to properly run the associations.
 
"Investment by cooperative associations can make a big contribution to poverty alleviation. Therefore, the cooperatives should unite and contribute to the national socio-economic progress, instead of looking only at individual interests," he said. 
 
The Deputy Commissioner said that the history of cooperative associations is almost as old as the history of human civilization. Cooperatives are an institution where the welfare of all is possible collectively. 
 
He hoped that cooperatives will contribute to the country's economy on a large scale in the future.