Bogura municipality hosts campaign on local economic development

Bogura Municipality organised a regional campaign and seminar on local economic development (LED) and the role of municipalities on 25 August at the Shaheed Titu Auditorium.

A three-day training workshop on LED was also inaugurated for 60 officials and business representatives from 11 municipalities across Bogura district.

The campaign was supported by PRABRIDDHI, a local economic development project jointly funded by the governments of Bangladesh and Switzerland, and co-implemented by the Local Government Division (LGD) and Swisscontact Bangladesh.

Hosna Afroza, Deputy Commissioner and Senior District Magistrate of Bogura, attended as the chief guest. Distinguished guests included Jiban Krishna Saha Roy, Director General of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA); Rezaul Karim Badshah, former Mayor of Bogura Municipality; and Rukhen Uddin Ahmed, Senior Advisor of the PRABRIDDHI project. More than 300 participants — including local government officials, business leaders, journalists, women entrepreneurs, and student delegates — joined the programme.

The seminar highlighted Bogura Municipality's initiatives to expand the light engineering sector and showcase local entrepreneurial success stories. Participants also learned about LED processes and strategies for long-term business planning.

Md Masum Ali Beg, deputy secretary and administrator of Bogura Municipality, delivered the welcome address. Referring to global examples such as Alibaba and Uber, he said: "Small-scale initiatives at the local level play a crucial role in local economic development. These initiatives not only create employment but also lay the foundation for larger industries and businesses. The PRABRIDDHI project is working to strengthen the local economy by providing institutional support to such initiatives."

Speaking as special guest, BIDA director general Jiban Krishna Saha Roy said: "Alongside foreign investors, we are working with development partners to attract local investors. While reforms are underway at the national level, their success depends largely on the activities of local government institutions. The PRABRIDDHI project is helping to bridge this gap. Without improving the business environment, it will not be possible to strengthen the local economy. Ensuring environmental protection alongside industrial development is the true key to sustainable growth."

Rukhen Uddin Ahmed, senior advisor of the PRABRIDDHI project, presented the Bangladeshi LED model and shared experiences from different municipalities. He noted: "The Bangladeshi LED model has demonstrated to local governments that effective public-private partnership, supported by the right strategies, can transform local economic development."

Activities of the PRABRIDDHI project in Bogura Municipality were presented by Shahjahan Alam, municipal executive officer, while Razedul Rahman Razu, general secretary of the Bangladesh Agricultural Machinery Merchants Association (BAMMA), emphasised the project's role in developing the light engineering sector.

As part of the campaign, a day-long local products and trade fair, along with student competitions, were organised. Enterprises such as Spirited BD, iFarmer, and MIT Park, along with women entrepreneurs, participated actively. More than 1,000 local residents attended, engaging directly with entrepreneurs and their products.

Residents accessed services at the One-Stop Service Centre. Students were introduced to entrepreneurship and LED. The event ended with vibrant local cultural performances.