Dhaka 24 February 2008:[/B] Today the Equity & Justice Working Group (EJWG) organized a national dialogue on ‘ Impact PRSP and Sovereignty in Development Planning’ at the National Press Club Auditorium in Dhaka. .
Dr. Tofail Ahemd, country’s renowned social scientist, presided over the dialogue session while Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Convener EJWG, moderated smooth functioning of the dialogue. Among others, Jatiya Party law maker and ex-parliament member GM Quadar, Awami League law maker Dr. Hasan Mahmud and BNP leader Dr. Rizvi Ahmed participated in the national dialogue and discussed on PRSP and its implementation impact in Bangladesh.
Syed Aminul Haque, Policy Researcher -Equity and Justice Working Group, presented the key note paper and argued that although the very objectives of PRSP was to bring-down country’s poverty situation but following the implementation of PRSP, country’s poverty situation has risen enormously. Syed Aminul, explaining the existing poverty situation and country’s development policies, questioned the way of PRSP implementation as it only satisfied the requirement of IFIs hegemony, didn’t implemented anything that would contribute to the poverty reduction in real sense.
BNP leader Dr. Rizvi Ahmed said, we don’t need to listen donors’ advice; for poverty reduction country needs its own long-term development planning. All political parties should work together to reach the goal. In this relation, Dr. Hasan Mahmud signifies the involvement of political party leaders in the preparation of country’s future development strategies.
Mrs. Shahin Anam of Manusher Janno Foundation pointed out that, government is going to finalize the second PRSP which of course should be poverty focus not only to satisfy the needs of country’s development partners.
Mr. GM Quadar pointed out that our political leaders and bureaucrats should be made responsible for the negative consequences of market liberalization and mismanagement of foreign loans and aids. He also said that foreign aided projects are treated as a bonanza for few corrupted bureaucrats and political leaders. That’s why they always try to support donor’s activities in our country.
Among others, Mr. Shahdat Islam Chowdury, AHM Bazlur Rahman, Mustafa Kamal Akanda of EJWG, Mr. Faruque Ahmed of Media Foundation for Trade and Development spoke in the seminar.
Please Download [Press Release] [Position Paper] [Presentation]
