Md. Mafiz Uddin Sarker, Rangpur

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir MP has said that there is a huge demand for handicrafts made by women in rural areas abroad.

The government will provide all-round support to reach these products in the international market. Members of various associations formed under the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) are becoming self-reliant through their own initiative and hard work. Their progress is playing an important role in the country's economic development.

He said these things as the chief guest at the inauguration of the divisional office of the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) at the Rangpur District Shilpakala Academy auditorium on Monday morning and the distribution of tree saplings, small and entrepreneurial loans and incentive checks for teenage girls among the beneficiaries.

Mentioning the government's special importance on women's education, the minister said that the government has taken various effective steps to ensure higher education for women. As a result, women are getting the opportunity to study free of charge up to the graduation level.

Highlighting the importance of technical education in eliminating unemployment, he said that the demand for skilled manpower in the international labor market is constantly increasing. Therefore, unemployed youth should take advantage of the employment opportunities abroad by taking technical training. In this way, they will be able to make an important contribution to the country's economy along with improving their own financial condition.

Regarding the development of the Rangpur region, he said that an agricultural hub will be built in this region to increase the income of farmers and properly store agricultural products. At the same time, the government has taken various initiatives to make the products produced in this region export-oriented.

Special guests delivered speeches at the event, including AKM Tarek, Director General of Bangladesh Rural Development Board, Mahbubar Rahman Belal, Member of Parliament from Rangpur-3 constituency, Rezeka Sultana, Member of Parliament from Reserved Women 336 constituency, Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Md. Shahidul Islam, Chairman of Rangpur Development Authority Md. Shamsuzzaman Samu, DIG of Rangpur Range Aminul Islam, Administrator of Rangpur Zilla Parishad Md. Saiful Islam, among others.

Earlier, the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives inaugurated the Rangpur Divisional Office of BRDB. After that, the three-day Rural Fair-2026 was inaugurated at the premises of Rangpur Central Shaheed Minar.