55th National Cooperative Day - 2026 was celebrated in Bandarban with colorful arrangements keeping in mind the theme of 'Work cooperatively, build country, Bangladesh for all'. On this occasion rally discussion meeting, revolving loan check and prize distribution ceremony was held.
The event was organized jointly by the district council and cooperative department at Bandarban hill district council auditorium on Sunday (November 8) at 10 am.
Minister of Chittagong Hill Tract Affairs Ministry Rajputra Saching Pru MP was present as the chief guest on the occasion.
Lusai Mong, member of Bandarban Hill District Council, presided. New Deputy Commissioner of Bandarban Miz Nazneen Sultana, Chief Executive Officer of Bandarban Hill District Council Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Additional Superintendent of Police Farhad Hossain Sardar, Member of District Council and Convener of Cooperative Division Q Pru Khiang, Regional Director of Bangladesh Betar Bandarban were present as special guests in the event. Rafiqul Islam, District BNP Joint Convener Professor Osman Gani, Mujibur Rashid, Bandarban Press Club President Nashirul Alam.
Bandarban District Cooperative Officer Fatema Begum delivered the welcome address on the occasion. Besides, President of Bandarban Central Cooperative Bank Limited, Nezam Uddin Chowdhury, General Secretary of Restaurant Owners Association, Abu Bakkar, officials of various government departments, President General Secretary and members of District Cooperative Association were present.
In the speech of the chief guest, the Minister of Hills Rajputra Saching Pru MP said that cooperatives are one of the means of achieving collective strength and self-reliance. Cooperative initiatives should be increased in hill agriculture, tourism, handicrafts and small businesses. It is important to ensure training, capital and market connections especially to develop young people as entrepreneurs.
He also said,Cooperative movement should be strengthened to improve the quality of life of various ethnic groups in the hills and enrich the local economy. He also emphasized on increasing the participatory development activities of the people to advance the continuity of the initiatives taken in the socio-economic development of the hilly areas during the time of martyred President Ziaur Rahman.
Deputy Commissioner Nazneen Sultana said, transparency and accountability must be ensured in cooperative activities. Through cooperatives it is possible to increase production, create employment and increase the economic capacity of common people.
In the president's speech, Lusai Mong said, economic development of people in the remote areas of the mountains is possible through the honesty, dedication and mutual cooperation of cooperative members in addition to government support.
At the end of the program, Bandarban Sadar, Lama,Revolving loan checks of a total of Tk 9 lakh were distributed among four cooperative societies of Rowangchari and Ruma upazilas. Besides awarding crests and certificates to successful cooperative societies and awarding individuals and organizations who have contributed to cooperative activities.
