Speakers at a seminar here yesterday said local development is a must for attaining the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) by 2015.
Inadequate foreign aid is also hampering attainment of the goal, they said.
Pabna district unit of Shusha-shoner Jonno Procharavijan (SUPRO) organised the seminar held at Pabna police line auditorium.
Pabna SUPRO President Purnima Islam chaired the program, The speakers included Pabna Police Superintendent AFM Masum Rabbani, Pabna Press Club Secretary Utpol Mirza, Pabna Chamber of Commerce and Industries Vice President Mahabubul Alom Mukul.
They said though poverty has been receded by 7 per cent in last 15 years, the number of poor people increased by 44 per in Bangladesh during the period.
They also stressed the need for ensuring accountability in implementation of development projects at upazila level to attain the MDG.