Home Blog Page 44

Civil society termed BDF the donor’s conspiracy of making the country more indebted : Donors are hardly reliable, Declare preparation road map for five year planning

By
equitybd
-

[B]Dhaka, 11th February 2010 :[/B] Today EquityBD, a network of right based CSOs, organized a seminar titled “ PRS II : Sovereign Development Planning” in Dhaka Reporters Unity where they termed the upcoming Bangladesh Development Forum as the ‘Debt Development Forum’ which in fact is the planning of making the country more indebted. EquityBD urged the government to drop the donor driven Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) process and urged to declare a participatory road map for the preparation of next five year plan by 2010-2011. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Convener EquityBD, moderated the seminar, while Syed Aminul Haque made the key note presentation. Md. Shamsuddoha, Mostafa Kamal Akanda and Dr. Sohel Iqbal of the group also spoke on the subject matter. Among others, ex State minister and the Treasurer of BNP Abdul Mannan, ex state minister Abul Hasan Chowdhury, ex Minister KM Jahangir Hossain of Awami Leugue, ex-member of parliament and present advisor to the BNP chairperson Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Ahmed Swapan of VOICE, Ziaul Haque Mukta of CSRL, journalist Kaiser Rahaman and Salahuddin Bablu spoke in the seminar.

Ex minister Abul Hasan Chowdhury mentioned local government and grass root democracy is the only way of country’s own local resource mobilization. Ziaul Haque Mutka said that forming Local Consultative Group to oversee and guide different ministries of the government of Bangladesh is the clear violation of diplomatic code of conduct as stated in the Vienna Convention. He urged the government to provide market protection of agricultural product. Ex minister KM Zahangir Hossain mentioned, in fact civil bureaucrats do not want members of parliaments to participate in PRS preparation. He mentioned that there is no alternative other then giving importance to railway and river route. Ex minister Abdul Mannan mentioned that in fact there are differences in what is in rhetoric and in fact policy outlines, the government must have to be sincere in agriculture development.

Related Paper [2_Vision-2021 VS PRS] [3_SDR Charter Finance] [4_PRS-II_Policy Matrix] [English _Vision_2021 VS_PRS] [Policy Matrix_english] [Presentation PRS-II]

Country should establish its sovereign authority in Climate Fund management

By
equitybd
-

04 February 2010: Today Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD), an alliance of rights based organizations, called the government to establish country’s sovereign authority on the management of Multi Donor Trust Fund ( MDTF) which is going to be operationalized soon for the climate change adaptation in Bangladesh. EquityBD made this call through organizing a press conference in Dhaka Reporter’s Unity today.

In this press conference, EquityBD claimed that since the establishment of MDTF in September 2008, the major contributors to this fund, the UK government, has been creating pressure to the government to channel this fund through the World Bank. DfID is insisting, against the wishes of the NGO/CSOs in Bangladesh, that the World Bank manages the trust fund. We should not allow the Bank to manage the fund in Bangladesh because the Bank has a long history of imposing economic conditions on developing countries, fuelling unjust debts and promoting dirty development. In contrast, there are examples of funds being managed in Bangladesh in democratic and transparent ways, with active participation by civil society, said the speakers.

In a written press statement, secretary general of EquityBD, Md Shmasuddoha, claimed that channeling climate funds through the WB is a trickery of the British government to weaken the negotiating point under the UNFCCC, where the developing country Parties are opposing involvement of any IFIs in the management of climate finance.

The speakers in the press conference said that contribution of the rich nations in climate financing should be additional to the already committed development aid to the developing countries. It has been clearly stated in many policy documents and also discussed in many multi-lateral dialogue that climate financing mechanism should be developed and provided by the developed countries in addition to their existing ODA (Overseas Development Assistance) commitment of 0.7% of their GNI, as compensation for their historical responsibility of the developed counties in being the main drivers of current global climate change. However, the contribution of the UK government to the MDTF is from the existing aid budgets, which is unexpected and injustice to the most climate victim country, Bangladesh. In a broad call for climate justice, this NGO alliance agued to put forward ‘polluter pay and polluter pay principle’ in relation to climate change financing.

Among others, Mustafa Kamal Akanda, Sanat Kumar Bhowmik and Dr Sohel Iqbal of EquityBD were present in the press conference.

Please Download Press Release [English] [Bangla] [Position_paper]

LDC must challenge the existing global financial and governance structure

By
equitybd
-

Dhaka, 18th January. Today a group of rights activists criticized the role of UN ESCAP and Government of Bangladesh (GoB), the host country of the on going Asia Pacific LDC conference, as they ignored CSOs participation from a ‘broad spectrum’ and violated the ‘aid memorie’ between GoB and the UNESCAP in organizing this high level meeting of the LDCs from the Asia and Pacific. The organizers claimed this through organizing a press conference in national press club in Dhaka today. They categorically alleged that the organizers have violated the UN General Assembly resolution which emphasized and called for broader spectrum of civil society participation. They claim that, as the organizers invited corporate NGOs as civil society representatives who in fact do not challenge global financial and governance architecture. They also mentioned that in fact ERD of GoB favors the proposition of the international financial institutions and they do not want any criticism in this regard. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, convener EquityBD, moderated the press conference while Md. Shamsuddoha of EquityBD read out the written statement. Among other organizers, Badurl Alam of La Via Campesina, Ahemd Swapna of VOICE, Sahadat Islam Chowdhuray of PRADIP, Zaid Iqbal of Bangladesh Krisak Federation. Mostafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD spoke in the press conference.

In the written statement Shamsuddoha put forward specific demand in respect of five thematic cluster of the seminar, which includes immediate debt cancellation of the LDC especially, debt of the earthquake affected Haiti must be cancelled and LDC leaders should raise this demand from here. He also demanded a UN resolution for the establishment of international court on food rights so that there wouldn’t be any protectionism that we observed in 2008 food crisis. LDCs leaders also should demand to keep agriculture out of WTO, duty free and quota free access of LDC products and tangible commitment on aid for trade to strengthen supply side of the LDCs. In respect of climate negotiation the group demanded a separate negotiating block of the LDCs and MVCs (most vulnerable countries) which should be independent from G 77 and China block that is largely dominated by the interest of the advanced developing countries. The LDC country parties should also demand the social, cultural and economic rights of the climate change induced migrants, which has been considering a major threat to the LDCs. The group has also demanded that the whole UN governance structure need to be reconsidered as the present governance mechanism failed to come up with a legally binding commitment from the country parties in Copenhagen to response global popular demand to save the planet.

Please Download Press Release [English] [Bangla] [Position English] [Position Bangla] [Presentation]

Climate Change Talks in Copenhagen and EquityBD participation

By
equitybd
-

seminar_pic121209Copenhagen, 9th December 2009. Today at 12 noon, Saheen Anam the Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) has said that “Bangladesh has already got wider global attention, but in home we need to workout a lot on effective aid utilization”. She was speaking while she was inaugurating a week long photo exhibition titled “Bangladesh: Ground Zero for Climate Change” in Copenhagen. As a part of Klimaforum09 (alternative people summit to the UNFCCC CoP 15), the photo exhibition has been inaugurated on 7th December and will continue until 18th December at DGI Bayen, Kodebyn, Copenhagen. This exhibition is jointly organized by Shaptahik, CSRL and EquityBD.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by a group of Civil Society activists from Bangladesh including Ahmed Swapan of VOICE, Ferdousr Rahman of PRODIPON and NCCB, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD/COAST and Golam Mortoza of Shaptihik. Golam Mortoza of Shaptahik said that Bangladesh has the challenges of climate adaptation but also this has to be taken as an opportunity to show the global community that, we will have the best utilization of aid fund and we can do it. He also mentioned that the international community has to provide appropriate compensation. Rezaul Karim Chowhdury mentioned that there are a lot of attention from the audiences and press in Copenhagen for photo exhibition as in Europe climate catastrophe is the problem of tomorrow, but in Bangladesh it is the problem of today. Already it is the issue of life and death for the coastal people of Bangladesh.

Ms. Saheen Anam has also mentioned that our policy makers have also to be serious on our local issues those related to environment protection. We have to take concrete action to safe our forests and rivers. Our community already has some indigenous technology of adaptation which is practicing in locally. This has to be documented and published for international recognition. The photo exhibition will continue up to 18th December, which has already drawn wider attention.

EquityBD urged international commitment and justice to combat forced displacement caused by climate change

By
equitybd
-

indexPicDhaka 20 June 2009: 20th June, on the day of World Refugee Day, Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD) and several other organizations organized a Human Chain in front of the National Press Club Dhaka while they demanded international commitment and justice to combat forced displacement caused by climate change. Md Shamsuddoha, General Secretary of EquityBD said that that the greatest single impact of climate change might be on human migration. He said, by 2050 the disruptions of monsoon systems and other rainfall regimes, droughts, sea level rise and coastal flooding would cause forced displacement of many as 200 million people globally while in Bnagladesh this figure would reach to 30 million. It would mean that by 2050 one in every 7 people in Bangladesh would have been displaced by climate change. Although the world is predicting the future floods of the climate change induced forced migrants but, still, no policy measures have taken yet to safeguard them; even there is no specific terms and concepts of referring these climate change induced migrants.

The speaker from the human chain argued that the current mandate of UNHCR on refugees’ covers only individual who flee their countries because of state-led persecution based on race, religion, political opinion, or ethnicity. The mandate of the UN Refugee Convention does neither cover nor comply the core characteristics of the climate change induced migrants crisis. Therefore, the people forced to be migrated due to climate change should bestow a different status and a different term and they should be given a dignified status ‘Universal Natural Person’ with social, cultural and economic rehabilitation.

The speaker said that the recent past weather extreme events in Bnagladesh like cyclone Sidr and Aila made many people homeless. These homeless people finally find their destination in the urban slums while they face serious violation of human rights. The speaker urgued, considering the notion of justice to the climate change induced migrants and also taking into consideration the article 13 of the 1948 Declaration of Human Right, the international community and especially the United Nations must ensure protection of the forced migrants. In line with the HR declaration and equity principle of UNFCCC, the speakers demanded a separate, independent legal and political regime under a Protocol to safeguard the ‘climate change induced migrants ’. This protocol could be drawn on widely agreed principles such as common but differentiated responsibilities of the country Parties. In this regard, the climate change induced migrants must be treated as permanent immigrants to the regions or countries that accept them.

Among others, Sanat K. Bhowmik, Mostofa Kamal Akhand, Sawkat Ali tutul, Gaza Sumsuzaman, Abdur Rahman and Atiqul Islam Chowdhury of EquityBD were present in the human chain.

Please Download [Bangla Press] [English Press] [Position paper]

21st February teaches us to be Independent While WB & IMF Make Us Dependent and Chain under Neo Colonialism

By
equitybd
-

equitybd21st February 2009: Dhaka. Today the Equity and Justice Working Group (EquityBD) brought out a rally to pay respect to the martyrs of the International Mother Language Day, during 1952 in this day students of East Bengal (the then East Pakistan) lied their life in fighting against colonial rulers the then Pakistani regime to…

World Bank Involvement in Climate Financing Opposed: Stress Political Participation

By
equitybd
-

index-picDhaka 21st December 2008. Today through organizing a press conference at National Press Club, Dhaka, Equity and Justice Working Group (equitybd) has concluded its three month long campaign on sensitizing political and CSOs opinion against the involvement of the World Bank in the management of proposed Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) for climate change adaptation in Bangladesh. The campaign progaramme includes sending post cards from the grassroots level to the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh and UK Minster, organizing seminars in district and national level to sensitize CSOs and political opinion against WB involvement in the management of climate fund. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, convener EquityBD moderated the press conference while Md. Shamsuddoha presented the background paper and campaign outcomes. In this press conference the organizers claimed that they mobilized a number of international CSO organizations and think tanks in favor of their position who also organized huge campaign activities in Poznan, CoP 14 (conference of the parties) climate conference against WB’s involvement in climate financing.

Speakers apprehend a conspiracy on the finalization of MDTF under World Bank management during the tenure of this interim government. They strongly urged to put the matter, especially the preparation of ‘climate change strategy and action plan’ to the next political government. They clarified the rationale of opposing World Bank, saying that this approach will allow the World Bank imposing anti poor conditionality to the countries. Moreover World Bank is playing a hypocritical and double standard role through financing to the fossil fuel and coal fired generating electricity project which are considered as dirty projects globally. Speakers mentioned that they will continue the campaign to sensitize up-coming members of parliament and Upazila chairmen who will be aware on the issue and oppose World Bank and IFIs in climate finance.

AHM Bazlur Rahman of EquityBD and Quazi Farooque explained the campaign procedure while Mostafa Kamal Akanda delivered the welcome address. Following the UK-Bangladesh climate change conference held in London in September, 2008 EquityBD and 30 other national organizations launched this campaign as Bangladesh Finance Adviser and also UK government proposed the World Bank to manage the fund. The organizers also pointed out that initially UK government announced 60 million pound sterling for five year period while Bangladesh government proposed 45 million pound sterling from this year budget alone; the organizers claimed that GoB contribution to climate adaptation fund is quite unreasonable as Bangladesh is no way responsible for climate change. This is also against the ‘Polluter Pay Exploiter Principle’ of climate financing. Initially the campaign was initiated by 30 organizations from the country and three international networks in Asia.

Among the signatories there are around 50 organizations from the country, where prominent organizations from the countries like Uddipon, ADD, CAB, COAST, Prodipon, NCCB, Solidarity, Innovators, Vocice etc and around 35 organizations from international level these are Jubilee South – APMDD, Jubilee South Africa, SANSAD and INSAF from India, LDC Watch, SAAPE, Focus on Global South, EEPA-Belguim. In respect of individuals there are signatures of Advocate Sultana Kamal ex Adviser to the care taker government, Rashed Khan Menon of Worker’s Party, Hasanul Haque Inu of JSD, Prominent Cultural Activist Hasan Imam, Dr. Alauddin and KM Jahangir of Awami Legue, Shamsuzzaman Dudu of BNP and Golam Mortaza of Saptahiki. Around 3000 post card has been sent to both UK and Bangladesh government.

Please Download [Bangla press] [English press] [Campaign Bangla] [Campaign English]

Shun Aid Dependency; Stress Domestic Resource Based Politics and Economy

By
equitybd
-

Dhaka, 19th November 2008: Today in a seminar organized by EquityBD held in national press club, titled “Doha Conference on Development Financing: Reproduction of Poverty in Bangladesh and Demand for Compensation’ speakers inquired this interim government to declare country position in terms of development financing in public in the upcoming United Nations Finance for Development (UNFFD) conference to be held in Doha during 29th Nov – 2nd Dec 2008. They requested the Finance Minister not to take the position in line with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Speakers also urged the politicians and bureaucrats to come out from the dependency on foreign aid, and give concern in the mobilization of domestic resources.

EquityBD convenor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury moderated the seminar while Md. Shamsuddoha, Secretary General of the organization reviewed the outcomes of Monterrey Consensus, the 1st World Conference of Development Financing, and highlighted the expectation from the Doha conference.

Among others, Professor Dr. Abu Ahmed, Sapatahiki Editor Golam Mortaza, BSS Editor Joglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Ex MP Sahiduzaman and Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Ex Ambassador Waliur Rahman, Journalist Farooque Ahmed, AHM Bazlur Rahaman, Mostafa Kamal Akanda took part in the discussion. Md. Shamsuddoha, in his presentation, urged that Bangladesh require innovative financing instruments as the country is facing climate change risk and the Finance Minister who will lead the country delegation in Doha conference should demand SIDR cyclone and climate change compensation. He also inquired government position in asking reform of World Bank and International Monetary Fund, debt cancellation and reparation of historical exploitation. He also mentioned that study shows that Bangladesh pay $ 1.50 for per $ 1.00 of aid and loan money.

Dr. Abu Ahmed said ‘historically development aid is practiced as a part of system that generates deepening inequality and dependence across and within the country’. The rich countries always try to sell their loans by the name of development projects, we should innovate mechanism to mobilize resource of our own. He also demanded to disclose statistics of foreign currency drain in the frame of profit repatriation, education and health expenditure of rich people in abroad. Journalist Farooque Ahmed mentioned that aid / foreign loan has made a commercialization of development. Ex MP Sahiduzzaman and Shamsuzzaman Dudu, stated that a patriotic and democratic government is a must for pro poor domestic resource based economy. Shaptahiki Editor Golam Mortaza demanded that the government should not negotiate further on any loan with international financial institutions and also not to sign any contract with any foreign company, until a political government takes power in the country. Prominent journalist and columnist Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury urged to examine the present global crisis that Bangladesh can take some opportunities. Ex Ambassador Waliur Rahaman argued all the politicians and others to take a vision for silver jubilee of the liberation of Bangladesh in 2021 for a sovereign economy without any foreign aid and loan.

Please Download [Bangla Press] [English Press] [Presentation]

EquityBd Demanded Democratic Reform in Global Finance Governance

By
equitybd
-

Index_161108Dhaka 16th November 2008. Today Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (equitybd) has organized a press conference in Dhaka Reporter Unity, as stated they suppose to organize a human chain in front of national high court building on 15th November, but they failed to get police permission, in relation they have organized this press conference. They are observing one year anniversary of cyclone SIDR, simultaneously they are also protesting President Bush’s anti crisis meeting to day along with the heads G20 countries in Washington. This is the meeting happening to sort out on how to overcome present global economic crisis the world especially the developed and advance developed countries are facing. The press conference spoken by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Mostafa Kamal Akanda, Md. Shamsuddoha, AHM Bazlur Rahman, Sahadat Islam Chowdhury and others.

Speakers said that, according to the donors and World Bank assessment there was SIDR damage of 1.7 billion dollars but the country has received only 350 million dollar so far as aid from other countries, which is only reparation of 20.5 % of the total damages. The speakers mentioned climate change and carbon emission of the developed country is the major responsible of cyclone like SIDR in Bangladesh. They demand compensation as ecological debt from the developed country like USA and EU and also from advance developing countries like India, China and Brazil, who are also in line of developed countries, increasing their carbon emissions.

They demanded white paper from government, non government and UN organization on use of aid money in SIDR rehabilitation.

They also blamed the approach of unlimited freedom of market and limitless greed for profit is the main root cause of global financial crisis ultimately which is also creating climate catastrophic, especially causing worse suffering in Bangladesh. There is an initiative for reform in global financial governance from UN, Ban Ki Moon formed a committee headed by prominent economist Joseph Stiglitz, and by passing this President Bush has called this today’s meeting. Speakers mentioned that, this is an ill perceived approach just to save World Bank and IMF basically who is the promoter of blanket privatization and liberalization. Speakers demanded participation of all the UN members, especially civil society from developing countries in reform of the global financial governance, they also demanded World Bank and IMF should be brought under UN control.

Please Download [Bangla Press] [English Press] [Position paper]

 

Second PRSP would make country more indebted to the World Bank and IMF

By
equitybd
-

indexPicDhaka 3rd November 2008. Today, in a press conference held in Dhaka Reporters Unity, Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (equitybd) urged political leaders to scrap PRSP process as this document has been prepared with the instruction of IMF. They urged political leaders to regain country’s sovereignty in economic decision which to be outlined in their forthcoming election manifesto; each of the political parties should describe their plan for poverty reduction, employment creation etc. in their election manifesto, the speaker argued. The press conference was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowhdury, Convener of the group, Sayed Aminul Haque while made the presentation. Besides, Md. Shamsuddoha, Mostafa Kamal Akanda and Sahadat Islam Chowdhury of EquityBd also participated in the press conference.

Speakers said that the 2nd PRSP, which has just approved in the advisor’s council, contains the issues of IMF and WB prescriptions of whole sale privatization and liberalization. All above IMF and WB carefully implanted the issues of macro economic in such a way that the country will be more indebted to the foreign loan, e.g. it has been outlined in the document that government loan borrowing could be up to 60 % of GDP, and debt stock could be 40 % of GDP during the PRSP period. Speakers mentioned that country is already paying annually 17 % of revenue budget as debt servicing which has surpassed the important sectoral allocation like health. Therefore as per proposed volume of loan borrowing would increase country’s debt servicing up to 25 to 30 % of revenue budget, which might force the government to reduce budget allocation to the public service sectors.

Sayed Aminul, in his position paper, mentioned that 2nd PRSP adopted the policies of commercialization of agriculture, irrigation, involvement of private sector in agricultural input business, and introduction of tax system in agriculture; Sayed Aminul mentioned that it is detrimental to the effort to gain self sufficiency in food and also to protect the basic survival of the small farmers. He also mentioned that, while the whole world is trying to regulate market and more nationalization after learning from present economic crisis, second PRSP outlined the policies of more import tariff reduction, reduction of sensitive list etc. which in fact will foreclose the growth of domestic industries and reduce scope of employment. Speakers were also criticized denationalization plan of Padma and Zamuna Oil Company and 26 SOE (state owned enterprise) as planned in the second PRSP.

Speakers urged political leaders to state clear cut poverty reduction policies in their election manifesto and also urged to protect the country’s sovereignty on own economic decision. They also urged political leaders to support UN initiatives of reforming global economic architecture with the participation of all countries of the world, while there are a initiatives from US president Bush to have such a reform only having meeting with G20 ally.

Please Download [Bangla press] [English press] [Position Paper Bangla] [Position Paper English]

1...43444546Page 44 of 46

Latest Campaign

© Copyright || EquityBD - 2019