Speaking as chief guest at the Centennial District Conference of Rotary International District 3280 Bangladesh, Khaleda underlined the need for working with firm commitment at the national level and maintaining social and political stability to make the nation's economic march unhindered.

She also called for shunning political culture of the colonial era to pave the way for increasing investment setting up more industries, boosting production and exports and generating employment to increase the national resources, ensure its fair distribution and eradicate poverty.

Khaleda stressed the need for developing a coordinated system at the regional and international levels side by side with increasing the capability at the national level to face natural disasters speedily and minimise possible losses.

In this regard, she called for maintaining coordination at the local level between the NGOs and voluntary organisations side by side with the government efforts.

She urged the Rotarians to involve themselves extensively in important activities like poverty alleviation, expansion of women education and expansion of health services for making meaningful contributions to the socioeconomic development.

Held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship centre, the function was also addressed by District Governor AKM Shamsuddin, his spouse Inu Shamsuddin, Rotary International President's Personal Representative Rajendra M Doshi of India, District Governor-elect Salim Reza, chairperson of centennial district conference M Hafizur Rahman and co-chairperson Nazma Khan, and past district governor Hasan Maniruzzaman.

Referring to immense losses of lives and properties due to natural disasters like storms, cyclone, floods, tidal surges and earthquakes, Khaleda said Bangladesh has experience of facing natural calamities and developed capability to face disasters with its own initiatives and resources.

Referring to a recent rehearsal here on the measures to be taken during earthquake, she urged the voluntary organisations, including Rotary clubs and NGOs, to carry out similar programmes.

Referring to huge losses of lives and properties due to recent tsunami in some countries of Asia and Africa, Khaleda said Bangladesh is also within the risk zone.

Describing the job of breaking the cycle of poverty as a challenging and complex one, she called for waging multi-dimensional and relentless war against poverty.

She lauded the role of Rotary clubs in poverty reduction, expansion of education, employment generation and healthcare services.

The Prime Minister also ago recalled the formation of the Rotary club one hundred yeas ago in Chicago, USA and also its objectives for rendering services to the mankind.

Khaleda also distributed project assistance among the Rotarians for carrying out social services to different segment of people.