LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan addressed the 49th annual general meeting of Bangladesh Samabaya Bank Limited as the chief guest. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Sept 8, 2026 (BSS) - Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan today called for building Samabaya Bank as a tool for the economic emancipation of the country's poor and underprivileged people.

He made the call while addressing the 49th annual general meeting of Bangladesh Samabaya Bank Limited as the chief guest at the multipurpose hall room of the Department of Cooperatives at Agargaon in the capital, said a ministry press release.

The minister said the primary objective of cooperatives is not to earn profit but to ensure the economic emancipation of poor and underprivileged people. 

However, he said, alongside social responsibility, the bank must also maintain financial discipline and comply with rules and regulations to sustain itself.

Mentioning that the culture of taking loans and not repaying them is unacceptable, Moyeen Khan said if borrowers face genuine difficulties in repaying loans due to natural disasters or other real reasons, such cases will be considered humanely, adding that deliberately becoming a defaulter by spending loan money on other purposes will not be tolerated.

Calling for a reasonable presentation of the various problems facing the bank, the minister said he would work together with cooperators to make the bank more effective for the welfare of the country's poor people.

Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Secretary Dr  Rafiqul I Mohamed and Director General of the Department of Cooperatives Md. Selim Fakir were present as special guests.

The meeting was chaired by Additional Secretary of the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Pradip Kumar Mohottom.