Special Correspondent //

The New Jersey government of the United States has launched a pilot project called Green Growth on the economic development policy of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. ‘One initiative, a little effort, will bring prosperity’ – this much-discussed slogan of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation has been kept as the main slogan of the project. The slogan has been used in all aspects including the project’s vehicles, brochures, and membership forms. The pilot project will be run for two years in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with the funding of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to ensure food security and under the supervision of the Bangladesh Association of South Jersey (BASJ).

The project activities were officially highlighted at a press conference at the Bangladesh Association Building in South Jersey on Thursday. Present at the event were BASJ President Zahirul Islam Babul, Green Growth Project Writer and Project Initiator (PI) Ashiq Islam, BASJ Secretary Zakirul Islam, Trustee Chairman Md. Rafiq.

Highlighting the project activities, Zahirul Islam Babul said that the main objective of the project is to ensure the economic development of backward women and food security of Atlantic City. In the first year, 30 women will be allocated under the project. They will produce vegetables by choosing the convenient place in their house courtyard, open space, balcony tub, and behind the house. Later, after meeting the needs of their families, the lion’s share of the vegetables will be sold in the market through Green Growth. Green Growth will provide free overall cooperation and supply of all kinds of equipment and marketing. The project vehicle will collect the crops from the producer’s house. The producer will get 65% of the selling price of the crop and Green Growth will get 35%. There will be special financial awards for the best 3 producers every year.

Zahirul Islam also said that there are Bangladeshi organizations in many states of America, among which Bangladesh Association is the first to be able to associate itself with such a work. Which is a great honor for all the members of the association and Bangladeshis. I believe that if we can manage our activities smoothly, we will be able to move forward to the next stage.

Highlighting the history behind the Green Growth project, Ashiq Islam said that there is a food crisis all over the world, food prices are rising. Low-income people are in despair. The United States is no exception. Along with various initiatives, the government will invest 4, 13 and 30 million dollars for food security in three phases. Among the 21 counties of New Jersey (much like the districts of Bangladesh), Atlantic City in Atlantic County has been initially chosen for the pilot project. Since Atlantic City is mainly a casino and tourism-dependent city, the number of professional people in the region is low. 39% of this city of 42 thousand people is from diverse communities. In September 2023, a total of 52 non-profit organizations, including the Bangladesh Association, submitted their projects to the government. After a long process, the Bangladesh Association of South Jersey’s project was approved. Highlighting his experience of working with BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in Bangladesh from 2003 to 2006 under the slogan “One initiative, a little effort, will bring solvency”, Ashiq Islam said that the Green Growth Project will increase food supply in the market, resulting in a decrease in prices. All the members of the association who will be involved in this program, including all the producers, will get an opportunity for additional income. Therefore, it has been considered a unique project by the US government. A 3-member delegation from the government has already visited the Bangladesh Association and its activities on March 13. They highly appreciated the progress of the Green Growth program.

At the beginning of the program, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. cut the ribbon and inaugurated the Green Growth project vehicle. Regarding the project, he said, this is a different religious project. Although it was designed thinking about the grassroots people of the society, people from all walks of life will benefit from it. He wished the success of Green Growth.

The regular food distribution activities of the Bangladesh Association were shown to the journalists present, including the city mayor.

It is worth noting that under the direct supervision of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, a nationwide poverty alleviation and women development program was started in February 2003 with the aim of making the grassroots people of Bangladesh self-reliant. Under this program with the slogan of “One initiative, a little effort, will bring prosperity”, poultry, cows, goats, fish fry were distributed in villages, vegetables were produced in the courtyards of the houses, and free fertilizers, seeds and agricultural inputs were distributed. About 3982 families across the country were brought under the umbrella of prosperity. Of these, 613 families are in Rajshahi, 868 in Barisal, 720 in Cox’s Bazar, 702 in Chapainawabganj, 498 in Jhenaidah, 238 in Jamalpur, 214 in Noakhali, and 129 in Sherpur.

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