The Rural Development and Cooperatives Division undertakes different programmes for rural development by a range of activities including rural employment generation, skill development, research and formulation of relevant rules and policies. The Division has the vision of a socio-economically developed Bangladesh. To achieve the vision, the Division has the mission “to eradicate poverty by means of cooperatives and integrated rural development activities, as well as research”.
Mandate of RDCD is (1) Formulation of rural development policy and laws, rules and policy relating to cooperatives; (2) Formulation and implementation of programmes/and projects to alleviate rural poverty; (3) Assist entrepreneurs through micro-credit, agricultural credit, cooperative based small and cottage industries, co-operative bank, co-operative insurance, co-operative based farming and marketing, milk and other cooperative enterprises; (4) Initiate human resource development programmes for members of the cooperatives, provide education, training and conduct research programmes on rural development and cooperatives; (5) Innovate new model/strategy on rural development through action research; (6) Assist in the socio-economic development and empowerment of rural women through formation of formal and informal groups under cooperative programmes.