Faruk Magura Correspondent: Social Development Foundation (SDF), Financial Institutions Division, Ministry of Finance, Magura. Resilience Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Improvement (RELI) Project Stakeholder Workshop was held. The stakeholder workshop was organized by the Magura District Office Social Development Foundation (SDF) at the Magura District Commissioner’s Conference Room on Wednesday, May 28 at 12 noon.

Introduction to SDF – Social Development Foundation (SDF) was established by the government in 2000 as part of its poverty alleviation efforts through a notification issued by the Honorable President of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. This organization was registered as a non-profit organization under the Companies Act 1994. It is a non-profit and autonomous organization under the Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Since 2001, it has been working for the socio-economic development of the rural poor and extremely poor people.

The event was presided over by Jessore Region SDF Regional Director Md. Kamal Bashar and presented by Anup Kumar.

Magura Deputy Commissioner Md. Ahidul Islam was present as the chief guest. Also present were Magura Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Shamim Kabir, Deputy Director of the Women’s Affairs Department Abdul Awal, ADD Bishnu Pad Saha of the Agricultural Extension Department Khamarbari, District Animal Resources Officer Mihir Kanti Biswas, Deputy Director of the District Social Services Office Md. Zakir Hossain, Deputy Manager of the BSCIC Office Arjun Kumar Biswas, Police Superintendent Office Police Inspector (retd) Shariful Islam, Assistant Director of the National Security Intelligence NSI Rajib Hossain, District Cooperative Office On-site Investigator Hasibur Rahman, Assistant Professor of the Government College Khan Shafiullah, General Secretary of the Magura Press Club Shafiqul Islam Shafiq and President of the Magura Journalists Union Md. Faruk Ahmed, among others.

Three women spoke at the SDF Stakeholder Workshop on Success in Self-Employment: Swapna Biswas, President of Magura District RELI of Baulia Purba Para, Shalikha Upazila, Shiuli Islam, Small Business Owner of Paschim Dhawil Village, Mohammadpur Upazila, and Kakoli Khatun of Paikel Village, Magura Sadar Upazila.

The project area in Magura district consists of 75 villages in 8 unions of Maghi, Raghabdair, Chaulia, Bogia, Shatrujitpur, Kuchiamora, Gopalgram, and Jagdal in Magura Sadar Upazila, 50 villages in 5 unions of Talkhari, Shalikha, Shatkhali, Bunagati, and Gangarampur in Shalikha Upazila, and 75 villages in 7 unions of Nahata, Rajapur, Palashbaria, Digha, Babukhali, Mohammadpur, and Balidia in Mohammadpur Upazila. There are an average of 170 poor and extremely poor beneficiaries per village, and the number of beneficiaries in 200 villages is at least 35,444.

Magura District Commissioner Md. Ahidul Islam said that from now on, the works of SDF will be inspected on site every month and the work will be taken care of. He informed the SDF concerned about my first meeting with SDF and from now on, I will participate in meetings with NGOs. He also said that SDF was impressed by the pictures of various good works done in Magura district in the past years, the achievements of women and praised the concerned officials involved in ACDF.