DHAKA: South Korea expressed its interest to contribute in the sectors of agriculture and rural development in Bangladesh.

South Korea former minister and South Korea Rural Community Corporation CEO Dr Sang Mu Lee came up with this determination at a seminar on comparison of the two countries in rural development at Brac CDMA auditorium in Savar on Saturday (March 5).

Rural development experts, public and private representatives from two countries took part in the seminar, arranged by non-government organization Palli Bir Unnayan Sangstha.

Planning Commission member Shamsul Alam was present at the program as chief guest.

South Korea FAO association former chairman, Global Agriculture Policy Institute vice-president Bang Huan Chu, Bogra Rural Development Academy director general MA Matin, Agriculture University former vice-chancellor professor Abdus Sattar Mandal, Palli Bir Unnayan Sangstha president Saifullajh Sayed, International Water Association Asia affairs communication officer Jubaidur Rahman Sahrif were special guests.

At the seminar, Dr Sang Mu Lee said, ‘Per capita income of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) and South Korea in 1961 were same. South Korea is now a developed country and Bangladesh is a developing one’.

He went on saying, ‘South Korea has increased its per capita income to 22,000 dollar from 91 dollar.  Bangladesh’s per capita income now reached at 1,300 dollar’.

‘Saemaul Undong Movement is the key factor of the change in South Korea. It was a political initiative launched in 1970 by South Korean president Park Chung-hee to modernize the rural South Korean economy.’

The movement promoted self-help and collaboration among rural people and the government provided a fixed amount of raw materials to each of the participating people free of charge and entrusted the locals to build whatever they wished to do with them, he added.

Shamsul Alam said Bangladesh has also achieved many successes in rural development. South Korea development model can play the pivotal role in Bangladesh, he opined.
 
BDST: 1510 HRS, MAR 05, 2016
RS/RR