DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the nation to establish family and village-based cooperatives with a view to alleviating poverty.

Asking ‘why someone lives in a slum and someone in a building’, the premier, also ruling Awami League president, said, “We have to strengthen our rural economy.”

The premier, however, made the plea while addressing a function marking the 43rd National Cooperative Day 2014 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the city on Saturday morning.

She, moreover, handed over the National Cooperative Award-2013 to the best cooperatives at the program.

Pani Bebasthapana Samabay Samity of Chapainawabganj’s Dwariapur won the award in Category-1 on ‘Krishibhittik Sarbik Gram Unnayan Samabay Samity’.

Cooperative Credit Union Limited Samity of Banani in city received ‘Sanchay O Wrindan’ award in Category-2.

Jagannathpur Prathamik Biddalay Dugdho Utpadonkari Samabay Samity of Pabna’s Haturia received ‘Dughdho Samabay Samity’ award in Category-3.

The Karimganj Mahila Samabay Samity of Kishoreganj won the award in Category-4 on ‘Mahila Samabay Samity’.

‘Bahumukhi Samabay Samity’ of Category-5 award went to the Daulatpur Bazar Bahumukhi Samabay Samity of Khulna.

Soma Matsajibi Samabay Samity of Sunamganj received the Category-6 award on ‘Matshajibi Samabay Samity’.

The Sharsha Muktijoddha Samabay Samity of Jessore won the award on ‘Muktijoddha Samabay Samity’ in Category-7.

The Category-8 award on ‘Bhumihin Samabay Samity’ went to the Patgudam Duldul Camp Bhumihin Samabay Samity of Mymensingh.

The Category-9 award on ‘Jubo, Bishesh Shreni, Tantisaha Onanya Peshabhittik Samabay Samity’ went to the Safa Bandar Khudra Bebsayi Samabay Samity of Pirojpur.

Lastly, the Kurigram Zilla Motor Shramik Samabay Samity won ‘Karmakarta O Paribahan Shramik Karmachari Samabay Samity’ in Category-10.

BDST: 1546 HRS, NOV 01, 2014