The Center on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) has urged Bangladesh and its other member states to collaborate for observing July 6 as World Rural Development Day. The urged was made while newly appointed CIRDAP’s Director General presented his credentials to foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain today at the foreign ministry here, said a press release.     On September 2024, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution proclaiming July 6 as "World Rural Development Day."    Dhaka initiated this resolution, which was presented at the 78th UNGA session plenary by Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines, and Thailand.    During the meeting, the CIRDAP director general highlighted the critical role of sustainable rural development in building an inclusive future.  The Foreign Adviser assured the Director General for continued support of Bangladesh as the host country of CIRDAP in its activities. The CIRDAP, hosted by Bangladesh is a regional, intergovernmental and autonomous organization that was established on July 6 in 1979 at the initiative of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with support from several other UN bodies and donors.   From the original six members, CIRDAP has now grown up as a centre of 15 member states - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.