ADRA Bangladesh's 10 Cooperative Shomity have got Government Accreditation

Cooperative Shomity, a form of mutual aid society, has been an integral part of the social fabric of Bangladesh for decades. These organizations, formed by groups of individuals who work together to help each other, have played a vital role in strengthening community bonds and promoting social welfare.

Cooperative Shomity in Bangladesh has been a major force in promoting economic development. These organizations have played a crucial role in providing access to credit for small businesses and farmers. Through their collective effort, members can secure loans at a lower interest rate than those offered by traditional financial institutions.

ADRA Bangladesh is working untiringly to promote Cooperative Shomity through its Community Empowerment Project (CEP) in Bangladesh. ADRA formed 10 CBOs in Gouripur, Mymensingh, comprised of 2,500 members and trained them intending to develop their organizational skills. All these 2,500 members have raised BDT. 2,17,22,842.50 as their capital.

Recently, the Cooperative Department and Upazila Administration of Gouripur, Mymensingh, have accredited 10 women organizations of Community Empowerment Project (CEP) as official Cooperative Shomity for their work in cooperative and women development. The Cooperative Department and Upazila Administration of Gouripur, Mymensingh, have given them a crest as a token of accreditation.

Those 10 organizations that have been accredited and awarded are Sonampur, Pachar, Khalijuri, Damgaon, Nondigram, Morichali, Singjani, Churali, Ichulia, and Bhabanipur Women Development Shomity Limited.

Fouzia Naznin, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Gouripur, appeared as the president of the event. Apart from this Officer-in-Charge, (OC), Gouripur, and the local government counterparts and leaders were present at the event.

"ADRA Bangladesh works to develop the socio-economic conditions of the people of this country through the Community Empowerment Project (CEP). This project aims to improve their economic condition by creating a legitimate organization by registering from the Cooperative Directorate of the government through the formation of CBO. In continuation of this, the project is working tirelessly to develop the skills of 2,500 women members through various trainings, meetings, and sessions. I want to thank ADRA Sweden for helping us to run this wonderful project," said Joel Sikder, Senior Project Manager, CEP-Gouripur, Mymensingh.

CEP of ADRA Bangladesh has been a catalyst for empowering women. CEP has provided a platform for women to work together and work towards their socio-economic development. Women can access credit, receive social support, and participate in decision-making processes within their respective Shomity.

All those organizations have played a vital role in promoting economic development, social welfare, and women's empowerment in their locality. As Bangladesh continues to develop, the Cooperative Shomity movement will remain an integral part of the country's social fabric and a source of strength for its people.