News Flash
KHULNA, Nov 1, 2025 (BSS) - Md Firoz Shah, Acting Divisional Commissioner of Khulna, here today said cooperatives play a vital role in improving the living standards and accelerating the economic progress of underprivileged people.
He made the remarks as chief guest at a discussion meeting marking the 54th National Cooperative Day held at the Khulna Deputy Commissioner's conference room in the morning.
The event was jointly organized by the Department of Cooperatives and Khulna District Cooperative Union with assistance from the district administration.
This year's theme was "Cooperatives build the nation through equality and equity."
"Cooperatives embody the spirit of collective effort," the chief guest said, adding that through cooperatives, initiatives are taken for poverty alleviation, social security, discipline, women's empowerment, and providing loans and training to rural communities.
Cooperatives help make people economically self-reliant and create employment opportunities, he added.
The chief guest urged all concerned to strengthen the cooperative movement further to build an equitable and prosperous nation.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Md. Toufiqur Rahman presided over the discussion meeting.
Joint Registrar of the Divisional Cooperative Office Md. Nurunnabi presented the keynote paper on this year's theme while District Cooperative Officer Syed Jasim Uddin delivered the welcome speech.
Among others, Principal of Khulna Regional Cooperative Institute Masuda Parvin, President of Khulna District Cooperative Union Advocate Nazmul Hossain, and cooperative members Bishnupada Roy and Md. Maruf Billah also spoke.
District Cooperative Officer Syed Jasim Uddin informed that the district currently has 1,967 primary and 26 central registered cooperative societies.
This year, the government collected Tk 24, 40,710 in revenue and audit fees, and Tk 17, 49,799 in cooperative development funds. Loans worth Tk 43, 16,500 were disbursed and Tk 40, 81,598 recovered under two housing projects.
Under Asrayan Project-2, Tk 21,75,000 in loans were disbursed and Tk 18,09,410 recovered, while another phase of the project distributed Tk 1,44,77,500 and recovered Tk 99,21,960.
He further said that under the "Expansion of Dairy Cooperative Societies in Two Upazilas" project, Tk 7.56 crore was disbursed and Tk 5.07 crore recovered, while Tk 7.66 crore was distributed and Tk 4.97 crore recovered under the "Improving the Livelihoods of Disadvantaged Women through Rearing High-Yielding Cows" project.
The Family Welfare Project achieved full recovery of its Tk 2.6 lakh in loans, as did the Tk 4.65 lakh under the Strengthening Project.
Later, four best cooperative societies and two individual cooperative members from six districts of Khulna Division were awarded crests and certificates.
Earlier in the day, a colorful procession started from Shaheed Hadis Park, paraded through different city streets, and ended at the Collectorate premises. People from various walks of life joined the rally.
