Continue role in rural dev, poverty cut
Bhuiyan urges Cirdap countries
Bdnews, Dhaka
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday urged Cirdap as well as its member countries to continue its role in the rural development and the reduction of poverty through sharing expertise and experiences for the uplift of poor of this region along with the global response and opportunity. Bhuiyan was addressing the inaugural session of the Executive Council-25 of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (Cirdap) as the chief guest at its auditorium. Cirdap is a unique organisation in the region working for poverty alleviation, rural development, gender equity, social mobilisation of poor, GO-NGO collaboration in development efforts, food security, harnessing the community initiative, human resources development since its inception, he added. It has organised the series of events, including a regional policy dialogue on Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation, from September 29 to October 3 in Dhaka on the occasion of its executive committee (EC) and governing council (GC) meetings. Cirdap Executive Committee Chairperson Arwan Surbakti presided over the meting. Director General Dr Durga Prasad Paudyal said the meeting will be a historic one for streamlining the mechanism for enhancing regional cooperation among the countries of Asia-Pacific region in fostering rural development and achieving the goal of poverty alleviation with active participation of Cirdap at the regional level. State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Ziaul Haque Zia, said a new strategic framework for Cirdap has been developed with a new vision for enhanced regional cooperation. Secretary Hedayetul Islam Chowdhury also spoke. Representatives from 14 member countries and policy experts of this region have been taking part in the dialogue and the meetings. The regional policy dialogue on Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation will be held at Cirdap auditorium in the city on October 1. The 25th EC meeting of the Cirdap will be held today while the 15th GC meeting on October 2 and 3 with a view to strengthening the organisational capacity and professional strength of the regional body. GC is the highest policymaking body of the Cirdap comprising the ministers in-charge of rural development and agriculture in 14 member countries. The EC is a policy planning and recommending body consisting of the secretaries, permanent secretaries and secretary generals of the designated contact ministries of the member countries.
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