Princess praises fight against poverty
She said she is impressed to see that a large number of distressed people, particularly women, in Rangpur and adjoining districts are becoming self-reliant with assistance from NGOs.
"Bangladesh is an example of poverty alleviation with micro credit support from NGOs."
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The Crown Princess visited a number of villages in Rangpur, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts yesterday and the day before and talk to a large number women who became self-reliant with micro-credit.
She was on a two-day private tour of Bangladesh.
Earlier, she was received by Swedish Ambassador in Bangladesh Borje Mattson, World Food Programme Country Director Douglas Casson Couts, Director of Church of Sweden Aid Christer Akesson, RDRS Executive Director Kamal Uddin Akber when she arrived at Syedpur airport at about 10 am on Tuesday.
The princess reached Balapara union complex in Kounia uapazila in Rangpur at 11:00 am on Tuesday. She talked to a number of BRAC's women beneficiaries who told her
their past and present conditions.
They told her that three or four years back they were totally helpless as they had hardly any means but now they are self-reliant.
They also told her how BRAC and WFP supported them.
The princess also visited Nijpara Govt Primary School in Lalmonirhat Sader upzila to see WFP's Nutrition for Education Programme.
She talked to students, teachers, parents, NGO representatives and the local administration about the programme in schools.
She gave 'fortified' biscuits to poor students and donated sports materials to the school.
From Nijpara, she went to Mogholhat in Lalmonirhat to see how women acquired assets with resources they got as wages for excavating leased ponds under Integrated Food Security Programme.
During conversation, she called the IFS beneficiaries 'strong women'.
The princess also talked to women beneficiaries of RDRS at Balakandi and Thethrai in Kurigram district and inquired about their socio-economic condition.
The princess also visited activities under the Food for Asset Programme at Mogholhat in Lalmonirhat.
WFP supports RDRS to run the Food for Asset Programme for most vulnerable women in Lalmonirhat and other northern districts so that they can be included in mainstream programmes of NGOs.
After visiting different projects of WFP, BRAC, and RDRS, Princess Victoria met journalist at Begum
Rockeya Auditorium in Rangpur in the afternoon.
She told newsmen that she was very delighted to see the greenery in Bangladesh.
She said, " Bangladesh is now in better position as regards education, nutrition, healthcare, and women empowerment."
Poverty will be alleviated fully in near future if development activities continue in this way, she observed.
The administrations in Rangpur and Lalmonirhat provided tight security during her visit.
Yesterday, the princess visited different women federations of RDRS at Ulipur Upzila in Kurigram district.
Princees Victoria is the main patron of the donar agency that funds RDRS and WFP in Bangladesh.
The princess left Syedpur for Dhaka yesterday afternoon in the same plane.