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<div id="stcpDiv" style="text-align: justify;">Former Indian president and eminent scientist APJ Abdul Kalam on Saturday stressed that Bangladesh and India should work together to replace plastic and synthetic products from the world with jute products and restore the glory of the natural fibre.
‘There is a great opportunity for Bangladesh and India to take a visionary action to replace and eliminate plastic products throughout the world by developing technology for and marketing of jute products,’ he said at a programme in the city organised by Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He advised all to use jute bags instead of plastic bags which pose a threat to environment.
Abdul Kalam also said that a creative leadership, effective management and innovation could lead a nation to sustained economic development.
On Bangladesh-India bilateral trade, he cited experts’ prediction and hoped that it would cross $10 billion mark by 2018 from the current $6 billion.
‘I hope this progress in bilateral trade will be on equal partnership and should be balanced for both countries,’ he said.
Replying to a question, he said that economic growth and prosperity could diminish the threat of terrorism in a country.
MCCI organised the programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre marking its 110th anniversary.
Kalam, India’s 11th president, presented a key note paper on ‘sustainable development system for a peaceful and prosperous global society’ at the programme.
He said that both the countries should share knowledge and skills related to jute industry for mutual benefit.
India and Bangladesh can also work together to find ways to enhance the value of the jute and bamboo products and make the products moisture- and fire-proof, he said.
Kalam said that the two countries should also work together to develop a system for achieving sustainable economic development and empowering the rural community for economic prosperity.
He presented a model of sustainable development in rural areas – providing urban amenities in rural areas (PURA) under which a specific area would be developed with three modes of connectivity – physical, electronic and knowledge.
Such connectivity will ultimately lead the rural area towards economic connectivity, he said.
There are some PURA operational in India and the government is already moving ahead with the implementation of the model on national level across several districts, he said.
‘Bangladesh, with over 100 million rural citizens, will need 1,000 PURA complexes to makes its rural areas vibrant engines of development and growth,’ he said.
A PURA can be based on agriculture such as jute and fish, bamboo and industry, including hi-tech and tourism, he said.
In Khulna region of Bangladesh, some PURA can be developed on jute and jute products and forest products.
Under the system, local farmers and manufacturers will work under a cooperative structure for managing production, processing, technological reinforcement and marketing of jute products in the region, he explained.
About fight against terrorism, Kalam suggested addressing the reason for terrorism saying that only economic growth and prosperity could remove the menace.
He urged the businesspeople to do ethical business for sustainable development.
He identified poverty, illiteracy, scarcity of drinking water, lack of clean and green energy and equitable distribution of resources, quality education and quality health care as the main global challenges.
Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, commerce minister Tofail Ahmed, prime minister’s international affairs adviser Gowher Rizvi, MCCI president Rokia Afzal Rahman, business leaders, politicians, and eminent citizens attended the programme. - See more at: http://newagebd.net/58905/bdesh-india-should-work-together-abdul-kalam/#sthash.i2ElUrVU.HGsHWF0k.dpuf</div>
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