Staff Reporter:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday said a prosperous Bangladesh cannot be built without devel-oped rural areas, stressing that villages and rural communities are the foundation of national develop-ment.
“The government is working to bring every citizen into the mainstream of development as part of its commitment to establishing a just, participatory and people-oriented state system,” the premier said in a message issued on the eve of the first-ever ‘National Rural Development Day-2026’, to be observed to-day.
Referring to this year’s theme, “Developed Villages, Prosperous Nation, Bangladesh First”, he said it reflects the government’s development vision and the aspirations of the people.
The PM said nearly 68 percent of the country’s population lives in rural areas and contributes signifi-cantly to national development through agriculture, small enterprises, cottage industries and other local economic activities.
“Rural development, therefore, is one of the key pillars for building an inclusive, sustainable and pros-perous Bangladesh,” he added.
The prime minister recalled that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman introduced his 19-point program in 1977, outlining a far-reaching development strategy.
It focused on agricultural growth, decentralization of administration, strengthening local government, achieving food self-sufficiency and boosting the rural economy.
He also highlighted initiatives taken during the tenure of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, including rural infrastructure development, increased agricultural production, expansion of irrigation facilities, agricultural loan waivers and support for microcredit programs to strengthen the rural econo-my.
Tarique Rahman said the present government has already launched various programs under its electoral commitments, including farmer cards, family cards, canal re-excavation, agricultural loan waivers, rural infrastructure development and skills enhancement initiatives for women and youth.
