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Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) for Climate Change Adaptation and the role of World Bank

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equitybd
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Index-picDhaka 11 October 2008: Equity &Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD) today organized a round table discussion on “Multi Donor Trust Fund for Climate Change, Adaptation and the role of World Bank ” at the National Press Club Md Shamsuddoha ,General Secretary of body presented the keynote paper in the event while Dr Tofail Ahmed moderated the discussion on the floor. Among others, former finance Minister Abul Mal Al Muhit, Former lawmaker engineer Md Shahiduzzaman and Ziaul Haque Mukta of Oxfam took part in the discussion and expressed thier views on the much debated management mechanism of the MDTF.

Md Shamsuddoha in his key note held the view that the formation of such a special fund for Bangladesh to support various action plans for adaptation to face adverse impacts of climate change under World Bank supervision will defeat the vary purpose. It will push the country to sideline of the movement for the reduction of carbon emission and knock out it from securing compensation to come from the developed countries as being the major polluters. He said all climate funding should be executed through the existing government channels. He made the point that there should not be any separate body like the World Bank to channel the fund and overseeing its management. He called upon the government not to take any fund on climate financing from the WB sincw sucg funding would eventually accompany tough conditions and regulations. The fund should be given as compensation, not as interest bearing credit, he said The principle to govern the fund should only be that ‘polluter pay and exploiter pay principle’, which means that the developed countries which are responsible for climate change related problems should pay the compensations to sufferers like Bangladesh, he said

Former finance minister Abul Mal Al Muhit said the risks of climate change can not be faced only by undertaking few projects. Reedial measures should be incorporated in all development plans and projects. “The representation of the people who are vulnerable to climate change should be included in fund management and developing the climate change strategy paper,” he said. He further said that the stance of any government in this respect should be published to the people in a White Paper before joining any inter-governmental or international conference in this regard.

Rejecting the ‘Climate Change Strategy and Action plan for Bangladesh’ prepared by the government, Ziaul Haque said it is by and large a collection of as many proposals. It cannot be treated as an effective strategy to face climatic change in Bangladesh as it lacks consultative views of campaign groups and experts opinion. Tthe Bangladesh Climate Conference in London reached a consensus, he said that the polluter countries would reduce emission by 50 percent of their total carbon emission by 2050, although it is considered insignificant by scientists. He urged the government not to lent support to this target in the next UN convention on climate change.

Local government specialist Prof Dr Tofail Ahmed said climate change issue is now a matter of national existence. So, its importance should be underscored seriously.

Please Download [Press Release] [Position Paper] [Presentation]

Equity BD protested the joint communiqué from UK Bangladesh conference and the Finance Adviser proposal for World Bank to manage multi donor trust fund

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equitybd
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index_pic120908Dhaka 12 September 2008: Today the Equity &Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD) organized a press conference on “London Conference on Multi Donor Trust Fund and Climate Change ” at Dhaka Reporters Unity, Dhaka.

Equity BD protested the joint communiqué from UK Bangladesh conference and the Finance Adviser proposal for World Bank to manage multi donor trust fund. Where Interest of the Bangladeshi poor population has been sell out to build image of rich climate exploiter rich countries.

In the press conference Mr. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Convener of EquityBD presented the key note paper while AHM Bazlur Rahaman moderated the session. Mr. Shahdat Islam Chowdhury , Mustofa Kamal took part in the discussion .

Please Download [Bangla Press] [Position Paper] [Landon- UK-Bangladesh]

Protesting London Conference on Multi Donor Trust Fund and Climate Change

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equitybd
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imageDhaka 04 September 2008: Today the Equity & Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD) organized a press conference on “ [B]London Conference on Multi DonorTrust Fund and Climate Change [/B]” at Dhaka Reporters Unity, Dhaka.

In the press conference Md Shamsuddoha Secretary General of EquityBD presented the key note paper while Mr. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Convener of EquityBD moderated the session. During the presentation, equityBD has protested the paper, biased to consultancies and physical infrastructure construction. EquyityBD has also mentioned that the paper has prepared in a very non transparent and in a little participatory process.
Equitybd has also placed five major demands, ie., (i) all climate funding should be through existing government and non government channels, their should not be any separate body for this, (ii) in channeling the fund there should not be any involvement of World Bank, IMF and ADB, we consider those international financial institutions are basically responsible for pauperization in our countries through their neo liberal conditionalitics, who are also responsible for climate catastrophic in our counties as still they fund climate harmful industries and projects, (iii) all climate funding should be based on Polluter / Exploiter Pay principles, not as charity or aid (iv) the funding must be additional to the GNI 0.7 % ODA commitment of developed countries, and (v) the conference must consider the matter of environmental refugees, according the World Bank report their will be 22 millions climate refugee in Bangladesh by the year 2050.
Among others, Mr. Shahdat Islam Chowdury , Mustofa Kamal, AHM Bazlur Rahaman of EquityBD participated in the press conference and took part in the discussion .

Please Download [Press Release] [Climate change concept paper]

LDC and Brussels Plan of Actions (BPoA)

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equitybd
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LDC Watch, South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) and Equity and Justice Working Group (Equity BD), Bangladesh jointly organized the seminar on ‘LDCs and Brussels Programme of Action (BPoA)’ in Dhaka. In the introductory speech, Dr Arjun K Karki of LDC Watch said there were 24 least developed countries in 1971. ‘But now the number of LDCs has increased to 49 and the rich countries are responsible for their deterioration,’ he said. ‘We were not poor. We were systemically made poor. LDCs must apply ‘2P’ strategy i.e Pressure and Partnership to gain benefit from the international Programme of Actions and multilateral development processes. In the key note presentation Md Shamsuddoha, Secretary equitybd, specifically analyzed the major challenges facing the LDCs in the implementation of BPoA and asked the lending countries and agencies to take immediate measures, which include fulfilling their promises for ensuring economic development in low-income countries, by building up human resources and increasing institutional capacities, enhancing the role of trade in development, reducing vulnerability, protecting the environment and mobilizing financial resources’. Dr Hasan Mahmud, Special Assistant to the Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina, said the least developed countries, like Bangladesh, could not reach their goal, as they follow the advice of international donor agencies like the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). BNP leader Rizvi Ahmed said the elected representatives of the government must make efforts to prepare the development plans with their eyes on nation’s interests, both at local and international levels.

The Jatiya Party’s presidium member, GM Quader, said the political parties here lack the will to protect the nation’s interests while negotiating with the lending countries and agencies.
Among others, equitybd convener Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Economist Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, SAAPE members Rokeya Kabir and Mohiuddin Ahmed, Sharif Al Kafi of BDPC, journalist Asjadul Kibria also participated in the discussion.

OWE CLIMATE Cancel Debt, REPARTION and JUSTICE NOW

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equitybd
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imageDhaka 03 July 2008: [/B]Today Equity & Justice Working Group (Equitybd) in collaboration with Jubilee South- APMDD, SAAPE and LDC Watch has organized a press conference titled on “ Cancel Debt, Reparation and Climate Justice[/B]” at Reporter’s Unity Dhaka, VIP hall room. Former adviser of caretaker government and Executive Director- Ain O Salish Kandro, Advocate Sultana Kamal inaugurated the international Campaign by switching on the flash card on before the 34th [B]G8 summit[/B] wich will be took place in Hokkaido, Toyako, Japan 7-9th of July 2008[/B]

The key note paper presented by Syed Aminul Hoque, researcher- Equitybd. The organizer urged for cancellation of all foreign debt, ensure climate justice and not to create any fund under controlling of World Bank. They also demanded to create the adaptation fund with the given frame work of UNDP. In the conference among with others AHM Bazlur Rahaman, Sahadut Hossin Chowdhury, Mustafa Kamal and Atiqul Islam Chowdhury from Equity & Justice Working Group were present.

Please Download [Press Release] [Presentation]

Budget ignored justified and equitable distribution of resources among the poor

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equitybd
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indexDhaka 12 june 2008: Equity and justice working group organized a post budget dialogue on the proposed national budget of Bangladesh of 2008 – 2009 FY. This dialogue was to facilitate people’s expectation to fed in to the proposed one. A number of civil society organizations , representatives of different professional group , representatives of leading political parties were participated in the dialogue and put forward their concern to make national budget pro poor and growth oriented wherein people would have equitable and justified access to the resources. Among others, Mr. Rashed Al Titumir of Unnayan Onneshan, Mahmudur Rahman Manna of Bangladesh Awami league, Samsuzzaman Dudu of BNP, Golam Mortoza editor of Saptahik, Ahmed Swopon Mahmud of Voice , Maliha Shajahn of APIT, Sharif –e- Kafi of BDPC were present and expressed their views and thought to make the budget pro- poor.

Syed Aminul Hoque in his key note presentation on proposed budget said; although the budget proposed increased amount of allocation to social safety net projects and to other prime sectors like agriculture but these subsidy likely to benefit urban middle class and rural elites. Syed Aminul commented Social Safety Net dominated budget as the budget of relief oriented and to satisfy immediate needs not really looking at the long term measures of poverty reduction. The proposed budget is heavily relied on deficit financing from the external sources, which will make country more indebted to the international financial institutions. Syed Aminul pointed that the government could follow the recommendations of Public Expenditure Review Commission, which has been framed while 4-party alliance was in power. Again, analysis of the implementation of previous year’s budget shows that expenditure in service and human development sectors like health and family Planing power and energy etc. was comparatively less than the other sectors like defense, public works etc, which is increasing human poverty as well as widening rural-urban as well as rich-poor gap.

In the open discussion many of the discussant indicated power and agriculture subsidy as discriminatory and unjustified while around 90 percent of these subsidy is spent to satisfy luxury of urban people. Speakers in the dialogue demanded withdrawal of fossil fuel subsidy from the non-agriculture/ non-productive sectors. They also proposed several specific recommendation to reduce fossil fuel dependency; like-

[#]Obligatory utilization of energy efficient bulbs
[#]Fixing air condition at 26 degree temperature
[#]Car free day in a week
[#]Limited and controlled utilization of government vehicles
[#]Proportion of solar energy
[#]Making public transport system convenient and friendly
[#]Ban on the import of high CC cars

he speakers also opposed the present concept of attaining food security as this concept undermines peoples’ rights on production system, farmers’ indigenous knowledge and make farmer dependent on multi-national companies for agricultural inputs.

Download Related Paper [Budget Framework Presentation] [Presentation 2]

ADB Failed Project Putting the Country in Indebtness : Repeal Institutional Immunity from ADB"

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equitybd
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adb_indexDhaka 17 April 2008: [/B]Equity & Justice Working Group (EJWG) in association with several other organizations- VOICE, the Innovators, Advancing Public Interest Trust, Coastal Development Partnership, Bangla Praxis- organized a peoples’ dialogue on ‘ Impact of ADB finance policies and ADB backed projects in Bangladesh’ at the National Press Club Auditorium in Dhaka.

The participating organizations presented a number of ADB financed projects as case like; Khulna-Jessore Drainage Project, Sundarban Biodiversity Conservation Project, Fulbari Coal Mining Project etc. which has created local level social tension and environmental disasters and finally considered as fail projects. The presenters pointed out that although ADB publicly advocates democracy, rule of law, human rights, poverty alleviation etc. but in Bangladesh it is obvious that ABD finance policies and loan conditionalities are reproducing poverty putting the country in the vicious cycle of indebtness. Following the presentation of the impacts of ADB finance projects and ADB Country Assistance and Program (CSP) the representatives of political party leaders and CSOs representatives expressed their views on ADB financing in Bangladesh. They also asked the government of Bangladesh to find out alternative funding sources other than ADB, the World Bank and IMF.

Mr Mahmudur Rahman Manna, law maker of Bangladesh Awami League-AL, said the country needs a strong political commitment for denying the hegemony of the international financial institutions; all political parties should work together to reach a consensus of avoiding IFIs loan and formulate internal and realistic national poverty reduction strategies basing on incoming remittances and domestic resources. But irony is that our political leaders even many NGO/CSO representatives don’t feel comfort criticizing finance and loan policies of the IFIs.

In relation to ADB’s five years CSP, from 2006 to 2010, Dr. Hasan Mahmud, another AL law maker, pointed out that ADB will no more finance on forestry and biodiversity, rural livelihoods development, clean fuel development etc. which clearly indicates that ADB country CSP is not poverty focused; it’s development strategy is strongly influenced by the neo-liberal economic policies. We should raise this concern in the ADB’s high level policy meetings.
Mr. Mohiuddin Ahmed, Chairperson Jubilee South-APMDD and Advisor EJWG moderated smooth functioning of the dialogue. Among others Mr. Golam Habib Dulal, Jatiya Party law maker and ex-parliament member , Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Md Shamsuddoha and Mustafa Kamal of EJWG’, Ahmed Swapon of VOICE, Zakir Kibria of Bangla Praxis, Zaved Khalid Joy of CDP, Sabbir Shams of APIT and Zakir Hossain of Innovators took part in the discussion.

Please Download [Press Release] [ADB – CSP Presentation] [PEDP Presentation]

Reforming the Budget Process and Priority Proposal for 2nd PRSP

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equitybd
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ImageDhaka 22 March 2008: Today the Equity & Justice Working Group (EJWG) organized a press conference on “Formulation Process of National Budget and Inclusion of Priority issues in the 2nd PRSP” at Dhaka Reporters Unity, Dhaka.

Md Aminul Haque policy researcher- EJWG presented the key note paper while Mr. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Convener of EJWG moderated the conference. Among others, Mr. Shahdat Islam Chowdury , Mustofa Kamal, Md Shamsuddoha of EJWG participated in the press conference and took part in the discussion .

Please Download [Press Release] [Position Paper] [Presentation]

Impact PRSP and Sovereignty in Development Planning

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equitybd
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IndxPicDhaka 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]

Political Economy of Bali Climate Conference A Roadmap of Climate Commercialization

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equitybd
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Index1Dhaka, 31 January 2008: Equity and Justice Working Group-EJWG, in association with the Global Economic Justice Forum has organized a seminar tilted ‘Political Economy of UNFCCC climate Conference: A Roadmap of Climate Commercialization at WVA Auditorium, Dhaka. Speakers at the seminar critically reviewed the Bali climate negotiation; intended to provide an insight to the peoples, especially country’s policy makers, negotiators, on the recent dimension of mitigating climate change impacts. Md Shamsuddoha, General Secretary of the EJWG presented the key-note paper. Awami League’s ex-parliamentarian of Mr KM Jahangir, environment secretary Dr. Hasan Mahmud, BNP’s ex-parliamentarian and agricultural secretary Mr. Samsuzzaman Dudu, Communication specialist of the Climate Change Cell of the Government of Bangladesh Mr. Nasimul Haque spoke in the seminar. Leaders from country’s mainstream political parties expressed their political views and commitment for tackling the impact of climate on the people’s life and livelihoods.

In the key-note paper discussion Md. Shamsuddoha pointed that the Bali Climate talks evidently proved that the industrialized countries are not ready to compromise their consumerism and development pace for the sake of global interest. In the Bali climate debate the USA and the advanced developing nations both have kept ways open for carbon emission; although the consequences of delay in the process of reducing emission will result more climatic catastrophes and social imbalances and massive economic collapse in the least developed countries like Bangladesh. In the negotiation process LDCs were within the group of G 77 and China but ‘the area of interest’ of LDCs and advanced developing countries were different. LDCs, being the majority in G 77 and China, could not put forward their concerns, e.g. emission mitigation, more adaptation fund, fund based technological support for capacity building etc as these demands contradicts with the interest of G 77 leaders. He argued that LDCs should have separate platform in relation to climate change negotiation.

Dr. Hasan Mahmud said we should put forward ‘polluter pay, exploiter pay principle’; historically rich countries are responsible for leading climate change so they should pay for this. Mr Nasimul Haque said, time is not in our hand, now climate change is not only an environmental problem, it’s a development challenge. We must reach to a political consensus for solving the climate change impact.

Mr. K.M Jahangir, in his concluding speech, said, yes we need technological support for ‘less carbon’ industrial and economic activities but we don’t want to be the victims of technology trading. Like ‘right to information’, we also should have rights on technologies.

Among others Dr. Ferdous Begum from DEBTEC, Zayed Iqbal from Bangladesh Krishok Federation, AHM Bazlur Rahman from BNNRC and Mustafa Kamal Akanda from EJWG spoke in the seminar.

Please Download [Press Release] [Position Paper] [Presentation]

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