Dhaka, July 4 -- State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mir Shahe Alam, MP, has called for effective initiatives to modernise products manufactured by cooperatives and expand their exports to both domestic and international markets.

He made the call while addressing a discussion meeting marking the 104th International Day of Cooperatives, at the Multipurpose Hall of the Department of Cooperatives in Agargaon on Saturday. This year's theme was "Cooperatives for a Peaceful World."

He said Bangladesh's cooperative movement requires improving the quality, efficiency and institutional capacity of existing cooperative societies rather than merely increasing their number.

The programme began with the hoisting...