Rajshahi city administrator Riton gives 120 people tools for self-employment

Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has distributed computers, sewing machines and business carts to selected beneficiaries from marginalised and disadvantaged communities to help them become self-employed under a livelihood support project for the urban poor.

RCC Administrator Md Mahfuzur Rahman Riton handed over the equipment as chief guest at a ceremony on the eighth floor of Nagar Bhaban on Monday (2 November) afternoon.

Under the project, UNDP, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and RCC provided computers to 31 people, sewing machines to 37 and business carts to 52. Of the 120 beneficiaries, 115 are women and 5 are men.

Speaking at the event, Riton said the equipment had been distributed to create new entrepreneurs and help marginalised and disadvantaged people become self-reliant. Efforts would be made to expand the project’s activities to the city’s 30 wards, he said. “We will continue working together to eliminate unemployment, create new entrepreneurs and help unemployed people become self-reliant.”

He said unemployed young men and women would receive the support they needed to create their own employment opportunities rather than simply waiting for jobs.

The RCC administrator also said the current government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, had set up a Tk 10,000 crore fund at Bangladesh Bank to support entrepreneurs. On National Youth Day on 1 November, the prime minister announced a Tk 500 crore startup fund to support innovative initiatives by young people, he said. These government initiatives would play an important role in reducing unemployment and creating new entrepreneurs, he added.

He said important activities were being implemented with support from UNDP, CIDCA and other development partners to improve living standards, raise incomes, develop skills, create small entrepreneurs and ensure sustainable livelihoods for poor families in the city. RCC would provide all necessary cooperation to help development partners expand their activities in Rajshahi, he said.

The administrator further said the city’s footpaths were for pedestrians. “Our efforts to free footpaths from encroachment are continuing. At the same time, we are taking steps to rehabilitate footpath traders.”

Professor Md Jasim Uddin, general secretary of RCC’s Social Welfare and Slum Development Section, chaired the ceremony. Rajshahi city BNP President Mamun-or-Rashid Mamun was also on stage. RCC Chief Executive Officer Md Rezaul Karim, UNDP Bangladesh Senior Governance Specialist Tanvir Mahmud and CDC Federation President Ayesha Khatun Mukti addressed the event.

Others present included RCC Secretary Sohel Rana, Chief Health Officer Dr FAM Anjuman Ara Begum, UNDP Project Analyst Abdullah Al Masum, RCC officials, project officials at various levels, CDC leaders and members, and beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries Asma Khatun, Reba Khatun and Yasmin Khatun Juthi shared their views at the ceremony. They said the equipment would help them earn an income, support their livelihoods and become self-reliant. They expressed their sincere thanks and gratitude to Riton and everyone involved in the project for the assistance.

Over the past year, 120 unemployed women and men in Rajshahi city received three months of training in computer skills and sewing under the Livelihood Support for Urban Poor Communities in Bangladesh (LSUPCB) project, implemented under UNDP’s supervision with RCC’s cooperation. Following the training, they received the equipment to help them become self-employed and establish themselves as entrepreneurs.