Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu on Friday said creating employment opportunities and promoting entrepreneurship are key to overcoming economic fragility and improving people's living standards,
“The government is pursuing initiatives such as the Family Card and Farmer Card while encouraging entrepreneurship to generate jobs and increase household incomes,” he said while speaking to journalists after inaugurating the Third Regional Cub Camporee 2026 at Thakurgaon Government Boys' High School.
Responding to questions about rising commodity prices, the minister said the government had inherited a fragile economy and was working under the Prime Minister's leadership to overcome the challenges.
He said social protection initiatives would strengthen people's financial capacity, while creating new entrepreneurs would help expand employment opportunities.
Speaking at a district law and order and coordination meeting on Thursday night, Dulu called for reforms across state institutions, citing the recent Thakurgaon election as an example of changes in the electoral process.
He said the country must move away from practices such as overnight voting, dummy elections and predetermined results, adding that electoral reforms should extend to other sectors of the state.
Referring to the political changes following August 5, he said young people, farmers and students had sacrificed their lives for a better Bangladesh. The country could not progress by retaining outdated systems, he added.
The minister also stressed the need to improve cleanliness in government offices, hospitals and educational institutions, expressing concern over unhygienic conditions in healthcare facilities.
He said patients sometimes returned home in worse health after treatment because of poor hospital environments. Bangladesh should adopt the cleanliness standards of hospitals in developed countries, he added.
On youth development, the minister warned against drugs, casino-related activities and other harmful influences, saying the Notun Kuri Sports program had been introduced to engage children and adolescents in constructive activities.
The government also plans to involve scout members in disaster response and awareness programs, Dulu said. Their potential role in assisting disaster-affected communities and educating people about preparedness would receive particular attention, he added.
"Damage to an entire generation would mean damage to the future of Bangladesh," he said.
Around 1,200 cub scouts from different educational institutions are participating in the three-day regional camporee under the theme "Blue Sky, Green Forest — Building Life Through Scouting".
Thakurgaon-1 lawmaker Mirza Faisal Amin, Thakurgaon-2 MP Dr Md Abdus Salam and Thakurgaon-3 MP Md Zahidur Rahman attended the inauguration ceremony as the special guests.
