Tungipara (Gopalganj) Correspondent

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina today said her government has been implementing multi-dimentional programmes to make each of the countrymen economically solvent.

"We have been working to make each of the people financially solvent by taking up multi-dimensional programmes," she said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while exchanging views with members of Dariarkul Village Development Society at Tungipara Upazila AL office here.

She briefly described the multi-dimensional programmes that include "My House, My Farm", giving financial grants to the people, universal pension scheme and giving loan without guarantee, proper training for youths to eliminate poverty from the society.

"We have taken many initiatives to improve the living standard of the people by stamping out poverty," Sheikh Hasina said.

The Prime Minister said if the programmes taken by her government are implemented properly none will remain poor in the country.

She stressed the need for forming cooperative societies across Bangladesh to make sure micro savings and thus help to develop Bangladesh.

The premier called upon the Awami League leaders to be sincere to increase food production, eliminate poverty through micro savings by forming cooperatives in every area.

She continued: "We are working as everyone can stand on his foot."

The premier later distributed agricultural and educational equipments that include ripper machines, fertilizer, laptops, 10 bicycles, 10 rickshaw vans, 30 sewing machines, and financial grant of Taka 40,000 to 38 persons, 10 pairs of pigeon and educational equipment to 38 students among the poor on the Tungipara Upazila AL office premises.

Younger daughter of the Father of the Nation and younger sister of the Prime Minister Sheikh Rehana was present at the programme.

Deputy Commissioner of Gopalganj Kazi Mahbubul Alam moderated the function.

Beneficiaries shared their feelings of getting the equipment and financial grants.

Sheikh Hasina, who is the adviser of the Dariakul Village Development Society, appreciated the initiative of reviving the cooperative.

The Prime Minister asked the authorities concerned to spread the idea of forming cooperatives across Bangladesh to make Bangladesh self-reliant.

The Dariakul cooperative society has built on 9.05 acres of land given by Sheikh Hasina.

The Prime Minister stressed the need for increasing food production through cooperatives.

In the cooperative system, the ownership of the land will not be changed while the crops will be divided into three parts, she said.

One each portion of the crops will go to owner, farmer who gives labour and the cooperatives, Sheikh Hasina said.

The Prime Minister reiterated her call to bring every inch of land to increase food production to cut dependency on others.

She said her government has taken the initiative of universal pension schemes for secured future life of the countrymen.

"We are not only working for the present but also for the future. The Universal Pension Scheme will secure future life of its beneficiaries," the premier said.

Sheikh Hasina called upon her party leaders and activists to include their names in the schemes to secure their future.

The premier also called upon her each party member to plant at least three saplings in rainy season as part of her party's tree plantation programme to protect the environment.

Earlier, in the morning, Sheikh Hasina along with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana and other family members paid rich homage at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing floral wreaths.

She also offered prayers to her family members who were martyred on August 15 in 1975.