A cooperative society has been playing vital role in changing life of poor people at three remote unions of Harinakundu upazila of Jhenidah.
Visiting the area, this correspondent witnessed the activities of some people engaged in selling rice, fodder for cattle heads, solar unit and its accessories, battery-driven vans and others. Rural people from different villages rushing the shop titled as “Rupali Sanchoy O Rindan Samabaya Samity” are purchasing the items in cash or installments from the central depot at Joradah.
Sona Bhanu, 45, a woman living in her own tin-shed house on the bank of an irrigation canal at Joradah schoolpara, said now she owns three battery-driven vans, six goats and other assets with the support of the association. She is going to purchase 12 decimals of land near her present destination with cash for a better living.
Altaf Hossain, 33, founder of the society, said he was leading his life as an associate of some people engaged in the dark politics of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) about 20 years back. When the then home minister Mohamamd Nasim urged upon the armed men to come back in society leaving the misdeeds, heading a number of cases, he left the path and started working as day labourer (kulli). He was also working in the betel leaf gardens for survival.
He said the number of his cooperative centres (society) is 19 in Joradah, Bhaina and Taherhuda unions of Harinakundu upazila, where 486 members including 209 women were enrolled their names as members.
District Cooperative Officer (DCO) in Jhenidah Syed Nurul Quddus, said the society is a lantern in the darkness when the people for some specific reasons, were turning over their faces from the once gorgeous cooperative society.
