BIDA, Swisscontact back local economic development in Dinajpur

Dinajpur Municipality organised a regional campaign and seminar on local economic development (LED), highlighting affordable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly innovations.

The programme was inaugurated on Monday (18 August 2025) at the Dinajpur Sadar Upazila Auditorium by Shah Mohammad Mahboob, Executive Member (Additional Secretary) of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), as Chief Guest.

A three-day training workshop on LED for 60 officials and entrepreneurs from nine municipalities in Dinajpur district was launched as part of the campaign. Supported by PRABRIDDHI, an LED project co-implemented by the Local Government Division (LGD) and Swisscontact Bangladesh, and funded by the governments of Bangladesh and Switzerland, the workshop aimed to build capacity in local development.

Md Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Dinajpur, chaired the event, with Jibon Krishna Saha Roy, Director General of BIDA, and Rukhen Uddin Ahmed, Senior Advisor of the Swisscontact–PRABRIDDHI project, as Special Guests. Over 300 participants attended, including officials, entrepreneurs, journalists, and students.

The programme showcased several of Dinajpur Municipality's innovative accomplishments, including the introduction of brick production using rice husk ash, the implementation of sustainable waste management practices in rice mills, and the development of successful local entrepreneurship models. Notably, seven rice mills in Dinajpur attained ISO 14001:2015 environmental certification with PRABRIDDHI's support, marking a significant milestone in advancing eco-friendly management and highlighting the municipality's leadership in sustainable innovation.

Delivering the welcome speech, Md Riaz Uddin, Deputy Director of Local Government and Administrator of Dinajpur Municipality, emphasised the importance of innovation at the local level.

Chief Guest Shah Mohammad Mahboob said, "Environment-friendly initiatives are crucial for local economic development. The government's key responsibility is to create an equal-opportunity platform and an enabling environment where the private sector can realise its potential. Education and industry must move forward in an integrated manner to build research and development capacity."

Special Guest Jibon Krishna Saha Roy remarked: "Reforms can be implemented at the national level, but they often face obstacles locally. The PRABRIDDHI project plays a vital role in creating an investment-friendly environment at the grassroots."

Special Guest Rukhen Uddin Ahmed noted that the Bangla LED Model and PRABRIDDHI's municipal activities would serve as exemplary models for other municipalities.

The campaign also featured a local trade fair and student competitions, drawing nearly 3,000 residents. Women entrepreneurs actively showcased their products, while residents accessed civic services, such as trade licenses and tax payments, at a one-stop municipal booth. Cultural performances added vibrancy to the day-long event.