'Poverty can't be removed thru' relief'

Relief and Disaster Management Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Eusuf yesterday said poverty can't be removed through distribution of relief, rather united and hard work would help free the nation from this curse.

Presiding over the district disaster management and coordination meeting at the Deputy Commissioner's conference room here, he said poverty is one of the major problems in our national life.

"Poverty creates most of the social problems," he said adding that all should come forward unitedly to build a happy and prosperous nation by eradicating poverty.

He called upon all to help maintain peace and order in the country as well as implement various welfare-oriented programmes of the government.

The minister, later, visited some projects being implemented under the Rural Infrastructures Renovation and Maintenance Programme. He expressed satisfaction over the progress of works and directed the concerned quarters to expedite the implementation of the projects.