Call to build sustainable market systems in char areas through public-private partnerships

Speakers at the closing ceremony of the Making Markets Work for the Chars (M4C) project said that there is no alternative to creating a sustainable market system through public-private partnerships for the socio-economic development of the people in the char areas.

They further added that if small and marginalized farmers' lives are improved through advanced farming techniques, modern technology, and easy financing, the country will move forward.

The event, organized by Bogura Rural Development Academy (RDA) and Swisscontact, took place today at a hotel in the capital.

The project, funded by the Swiss Embassy in Bangladesh and the Bangladesh government, was implemented from 2012 to 2024.

In his keynote address, Hassan Ariff, Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, said: "To build a hunger- and poverty-free Bangladesh, we must work more on food security, poverty and risk reduction, improving livelihoods, creating employment, empowering women, and improving communication systems in the poverty-stricken char areas."

"We are committed to providing all possible support for the development of these areas," he added.

Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh, Reto Renggli, said: "Given the reality of climate change, Switzerland will continue to support these development efforts and assist in creating new job opportunities in the char areas."

The event highlighted that the market and other services in the char areas are not up to par due to geographical isolation from the main settlements, resulting in limited economic activities and low overall output.

However, through the support of development partners, the Bangladesh government has implemented various projects over the past decades to alleviate poverty and achieve sustainable development in the char areas.

If mega plans are formulated for the development of the char areas, along with significant improvements in communication systems, agriculture, business, trade, and technology will expand, which will benefit the entire country.

The event was attended by officials from the Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives, the Planning Commission, government and private sector representatives, diplomats, and partners from the M4C project.

The M4C project has been working for the past 12 years to reduce poverty and risks, improve livelihoods, create employment, and empower women in the char areas.