Staff Reporter:
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yester-day urged the people to say ‘no’ to corruption and work together to build a self-reliant Bangladesh with-out depending on others.
“We have to say ‘no’ to corruption from the grassroots. If you can correct yourself, you can correct oth-ers. No one from neighboring countries, distant countries or the United States will come to develop Bangladesh. We have to do it ourselves,” he said.
He was addressing a discussion organized by the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) marking the first-ever National Rural Development Day 2026 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
“Bangladesh must free itself from poverty by restoring integrity and rebuilding public confidence in in-stitutions,” the LGRD minister said.
“We want freedom from poverty. The fascist government looted more than it worked. Corruption be-came rampant, people’s trust in institutions was destroyed, and BRDB was left virtually dead,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of self-reliance, Fakhrul said the people cannot change their condition by relying on others.
“You have to do your own work. If village governments are formed, leadership will develop. Everyone has to work together to build a better Bangladesh,” he added.
State Minister Mir Shahe Alam attended the program as the special guest.
The meeting was chaired by Secretary of the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Mohammad Showkat Rashid Chowdhury.
