Dhaka 17 June 2010: Today in a seminar held in the CIRDAP Auditorium, Dhaka leaders of the civil society organizations argued for creating an enabling environment for the progression of freethinking civil society organizations. They said that CSO should develop its effectiveness through maintaining some common…
Budget might increase class and income differences
[Dhaka, 12th June 2010] Speakers expressed their worries in a post budget press conference saying that this year budget would increase class and income disparity instead of reducing the burden of poverty on the most of the population including the poor. The press conference was held today at the national press club in the city jointly organized by civil society organizations and social movement groups namely Equity and Working Justice Group, VOICE, Bangladesh Krishok Federation and La via Campesina-Bangladesh. Among others, Rezaul Karim Choudhury of EquityBD, Ahmed Swapan of VOICE, Badrul Alam of La Via Campesina-Bangladesh, and Ziad Iqbal Kahn of Krishok Federation spoke in the occasion.
Speakers mentioned that integration of climate adaptation in the total budget has been neglected. They also expressed concerns that the budget had not given sufficient importance on resource distribution mechanism, thus this budget might result more poverty and marginalization enhancing the existing nature of income differences. The press conference was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury while the presentation was given by Sayed Aminul Haque.
Badrul Alam and Ziad Iqbal Khan, mentioned that agriculture should not be considered only as a sector, all sectors should be coordinated with agriculture as a whole. While there is a question that whether the subsidy is reaching real farmers, amount of subsidy has been reduced. They also proposed that there should be special agriculture budget for the southern part of Bangladesh, which is still suffering impact of cyclone SIDR and AILA. They urged government to ensure food sovereignty and rights of the farmers. Ahmed Swapan of Voice criticized the safety net program while he demanded coordinated social protection policy, which will facilitate asset transfer and sustainable income building for poor families. He also criticized the extension of VAT net, which would ultimately increase burden on middle and poor segment of the population. He suggested government to take proper measures and to ensure justice so that the poor population could come out of poverty instead of failing its trap again. The spirit of budget should assert the economic independence instead of making the country more burdens through foreign loans, he added. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD mentioned that Bangladesh would face severe problem of climate change, while climate adaptation initiatives of government would remain adhoc and sporadic. He mentioned that no special plans for coastal embankment construction, coastal afforestation were taken. He urged government to facilitate push and pull factor of internal migration rehabilitating the climate refugees. He also suggested the government not to accept any conditional loans and urged the government to involve citizens in planning, implementing program ensuring people’s right to participation. He appreciated the Finance Minister’s concept note on district budget, but he expressed worries about implementing the plan. He also demanded participation road map on preparing perspective and sixth five years plan.
In a written presentation Sayed Aminul mentioned that without reform in education administration, especially in respect of integrating of grass root accountability and quality education whatever the highest allocation in education, it may lead to more corruption in education budget. He also demanded local level accountability of the health administration to assert fundamental constitutional right of the people.
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Civil Society Organizations are in World Wide Process to Set Principles on their Own Development Effectiveness
Dhaka, 6th June 2010. Today in a press conference held at National Press Club, Dhaka, leaders from BAPA, CDP, EquityBD and SUPRO announced the date and process on Bangladesh National Consultation on open forum on civil society organization (CSO)’s development effectiveness. This is a part of global dialogue process which…
No to the technical assistance of WB in climate fund
Dhaka, 30th May 2010. Today in a rally and human chain, civil society and non government organizations condemned EUs sponsored on going Asia Conference on Global Climate Change Alliance as a mere talk show, they also criticized EU and UK pressure on government to accept World Bank technical assistance in the climate change fund. The rally was participated by twelve organization led by EquityBD while they placed twelve demands which include compensation of carbon debt from developed countries, participation of civil society and climate victims in climate fund management, creation of separate and independent foundation for climate fund management, immediate construction of embankment in Satkhira and other coastal area and declaration of 30 million Bangladeshi climate migrants as universal natural person and accept their access in developed countries.
The rally was moderated by Mostafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Convener of EquityBD in his speech mentioned that in the name of technical assistance in fact World Bank will manage the climate fund, Bangladesh has the example of managing foreign fund successfully especially in PKSF and IDCOL. Thus the involvement of the Bank, even as the provider of technical assistance is suicidal. Bank will use the fund to screw the country for the interest of multi national companies and for blanket privatization and liberalization especially in respect of essential services. Atikul Islam Chowdhury of EquityBD criticized the role of some so called climate experts terming them as ‘the donor darling consultants’, as they are being paid by donor agencies, they do not have moral ground to work with government. Tusar Rahman of Citizen Rights Movement mentioned that most of the World Bank projects in our country are failed project, basically which are benefited so called consultants and elite class, he condemn donors and government attitude of having such a lavish conferences, while almost everyday sufferings of cyclone AILA victims are being reported in media. Mohiuddin Ahmed Munir of La Via Campesina Bangladesh, mentioned that World Bank and other international financial institutions and developed countries are responsible for damages in agriculture sector in the third world countries, he condemn recently held USAID conference on agriculture forum and their advice to commercialize the sector. Ziad Iqbal Khan of Bangladesh Krishok Federation urged as a political government it should not accept this supply driven technical assistance, it must be demand driven, and Bangladesh must have sovereign control over fund.
In conclusion Mustafa Kamal Akanda mentioned that, sufferings of AILA victims and other coastal people is simply out of arrogance and ignorance of donor’s countries, whose pressure and delay techniques are also responsible for this. He also urged government to come out of donor dependency illusions and to prepare plan with own resources.
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Civil Society demands democratic ownership in local climate fund management
Dhaka, 27th May 2010. Today in a seminar held at national press club, Dhaka the civil society organizations expressed worries on the transparency and accountability mechanisms in the implementation of Climate Change Trust Fund (CCTF) of the government of Bangladesh, as it is overwhelmingly controlled by Bureaucrats and Ministries. They demanded to implant democratic principles in the governance of the CCTF through ensuring wider scope of participation of the climate victims, local government representatives and civil societies. The seminar titled “Government’s Funding for Climate Change: Bureaucratic or Democratic Ownership?” organized by EquityBD and CSRL, the two campaign coalitions of NGOs and civil society organization. The seminar was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, while Md Shmasuddoha of EquityBD made the keynote presentation.
Dr. Rashid E Mahbub or National Health Right Campaign, Tusar Rahman of Citizen Rights Movement, Faroque Ahmed of Media Foundation for Trade and Development, Syed Mahbub Alam of WBB Trust, Nasimul Haque of CDMP-UNDP, Mohammed Ali of Bangladesh Trade Union Center, Zakir Hossain of Nagorik Uddogue, Golam Mortoza of Shaptahik, Ziaul Haque Mukta of Oxfam GB and Retired Lieutenant General Mahbubur Rahaman of BNP spoke in the seminar.
In his presentation Md. Shamsuddoha mentioned there should be criteria based NGO selection prior to invite the proposal. As NGO has not given space to talk with victim community, there is every chance that the projects hardly are innovative in nature and which in fact created a market for Dhaka based consultants, who earn money out of project proposal writing, virtually has little relation in field. He also mentioned that due to not having NGO selection criteria, around 5000 NGO have submitted proposals for project funding, where most of them don’t have prior work experiences in the relevant field. Joint position paper of EquityBD and CSRL has also asked government to prepare ‘climate change vulnerability index’ for the country and adopt long-term project implementation plan in the areas to be affected most.
Dr. Rashid E Mahbub mentioned that in the present formation there is no accountability of trust fund toward people. Tusar Rahman mentioned that bureaucratic control over the trust fund management is not an expectation from a political government. Zakir Hossain insisted the use of right to information act, especially at the implementation level of climate financing projects. Golam Mortaza mentioned that in bureaucracy is a common feature in every State, thus political leaders should have proper orientation, capacity and honesty to lead and guide bureaucrats in a proper way; corrupt political process will enhance corruption of bureaucracy. Lt. Gen Mahbub demanded participation of opposition MPs, and also demanded that the trust should be discussed in parliament. Ziaul Haque Mukta of Oxfam GB asked for continuation such a campaign so that there will be more civil society awareness and concern in this regard.
In conclusion Rezaul Karim Chowdhury mentioned that the concept of ‘democratic ownership’ is nothing new. This concept has heen accepted by all donors, government, international financial institutions and NGOs in Accra Action Agenda on 2008 during the review of Paris Declaration. He expressed hope that, government will consider civil society concern on the fund management and will take action to reform it.
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Country require a holistic energy policy integrating all potential sources
Dhaka, 15 May 2010. No issue is more vital to country’s economic growth than its ability to secure clean and alternative energy sources as the current fossil fuel based energy sources are being considered as the main driver of global warming and climate change, moreover the stocks of fossil fuel are running out and becomes politically and economically costly. Speakers and policy maker of the political parties commented unanimously in an EquityBD organized seminar title “Fossil fuel less economy and national budget 2010-11” held at the Press Club Dhaka today.
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Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (equitybd) organized this seminar, where Syed Aminul Haque of made the keynote presentation title “Is irrational greed of fossil fuel is leading us to the country more indebted and captive to the private sector and multinational companies”. Mustafa Kamal Akanda and Md.Shamsuddoha of EquityBD moderated and summarized the discussion. Country’s eminent economist and Chairperson of PKSF Dr Quazi Kholikuzzaman was present in the seminar as the chief guest, while AL lawmaker and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Major General (Rtd) Subid Ali Bhuiyan MP; Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Agriculture Ministry Shawkot Momen Shahjahan MP; BNP lawmaker and opposition chief whip Mr Joinul Abedin Faruque MP, Shamsuzzaman Dudu Emranul Haq Chowdhury of UDDIPAN, and Atikul Islam Chowdhury of COAST spoke in the seminar.
In the key note presentation Syed Aminul Hoque said, the county does not have a well developed energy policy, thus the issue of attaining sustainability in energy is still ignored. He asked the government to prepare an integrated energy policy focusing renewable energy sources, rational use of energy and with rational use of subsidy. He mentioned that efficient use of energy is also depending upon decentralized governance, expansion of digital technology. He also noted that per capita foreign loan in US $ 150 now wherein in power sector it is per capita US $ 5.5, debt servicing in revenue budget 20 %. He quoted the examples from Philippines and Indonesia, where during autocratic regime erratic loan taking for augmentation in power sector make those countries huge indebted and which is now around 70 to 80 % of revenue budget.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Major General (Rtd) Subid Ali Bhuiyan MP said attaining energy security is the top priority of the current government. If we can not meet the increasing energy demand the country would suffer slow economic growth, but we must look for alternative energy sources rather than the coal and gas as less use of fossil fuel is becoming a global concern due to climate change.
Whip of the opposition in the parliament BNP policy maker Mr Joinul Abedin Faruque said to make country energy secure all the political parties should work together to develop a long term energy policy on the basis of country’s potential energy sources like solar, wind etc. Another BNP lawmaker and adviser to the BNP Chairperson Shamsuzzaman Dudu said energy crisis is nothing new for Bangladesh. But in the recent years people have been suffering most out of energy crisis but we are not taking appropriate policy measures to address the issue, we are blaming each other, which should not the attitude of the people’s representatives.
Chief Guest to the Seminar Dr Quazi Kholikuzzaman said presently, although, country’s major critical concerns are to attain food security and water security, but these could not be achieved unless we could achieve energy security. Attempting to develop an energy policy is a critical task; reduced energy consumption for poor countries would reduce human security, increase poverty and threaten food security- he added. He emphasizes development of a holistic energy policy through integrating all potential energy sources, including the renewable ones.
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ADB’s Role in Privatization of Services would create ‘state of inhumanity’ in peoples’ life
Today, an alliance of ten rights organizations, organized a protest demonstration and human chain against the role of the IFIs, especially of the ADB, in the privatization of essential services The rights group includes AMKS, DORA, Krishani Sohova, EquityBD, LEAD Trust , LaVia Campesina Bangladesh, MFTD, Online Knowledge Center , PRADIP and RCSV.
The alliance, led by Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh, organized this protest in front of the National Press Club, Dhaka during 43rd Annual Governors Meeting of ADB in Taskent, Uzbekistan as swsthis meeting highlighted the major role of the ADB in privatizing water, power, and other essential services in the region. The rights group across Asia declared May 4 as the Asian Day of Action against Privatization of Essential Services and organized similar protest actions also in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Pakistan while they raised critique and opposed ADB’s role in the privatization of essential services.
In a written press statement, secretary general of EquityBD, Md Shmasuddoha, said that ADB and allied international financial institutions are trying to promote corporatization and commercialization of essential service sector sector, especially commercialization of health, agriculture, energy and water sector. He explained that the ADB’s approach to essential services is “to ensure full-cost recovery plus profits combined with placing the private sector at the helm.” “To illustrate, for the US$50-million urban water supply sector reform of Dhaka, the bank requires that the water utility be run as a commercial enterprise and as a consequence, water tariffs are expected to increase by 200% from current levels in nine years.”
Millions of impoverished and marginalized people living in the urban slums have much less access to safe, clean fresh water thus the sharp increases in the cost of service resulting from privatization would create ‘state of inhumanity’ in the urban cities.
Mustafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD said that we are seeing the result of the commercialization of agricultural inputs, especially of seeds, that made farmers completely dependent on multinational seed companies and made agriculture system costly and unsustainable wherein 70 percent of country’s workforce employed..
Firoze Ahmed of Lead Trust said that since the establishment of the IFIs, these institutions are imposing privatization conditionalities to the poor countries as the pre-condition of having loan support. Although ADB in its own definition characterized poverty as the deprivation of access to essential goods but the activities and policies of this institution restraining poor peoples’ access to the essential services through promoting privatization. In fact, ADB financing in Bangladesh does not consider this humanistic aspect of poverty, he added.
Fayed Ahmed of said, as we see, since a few decades of development financing of the IFIs, the pace of poverty alleviation is frustrating; 41 percent of country’s population lives on less than one dollar a day, and a staggering 84 percent live on less than two dollars a day. In fact, ADB neither financing in the public service sectors e.g. health, education, agriculture etc. nor allowing government to finance these sectors, which is increasing poverty and economic disparity.
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No Bar No Fences between Countries Visa Free South Asia: SAARC towards a People’s Union
Dhaka, 28 April 2010. Today, on day of inauguration of the 16th SAARC summit in Bhutan, the People’s SAARC Bangladesh Chapter, a coalition of civil society groups in Dhaka, demanded visa free South Asia on the way forward to People’s Union in the region. They also circulated a written statement with sixteen point demands, which includes- immediate operation and revision of SAARC food bank aiming to feed all hungry people of the region; turning the SAARC Development Bank as alternative to World Bank and ADB; no imposition of uniformity and to uphold diversity of the nations; condemning militarism and terrorism as both are peoples’ enemy etc.
The alliance comprises with different rights organization raised demand through organizing a human chain and rally in front of national press club. They termed SAARC a mere talk shop as this regional association has failed to fulfill the aspiration of common people of South Asia. They demanded changes in SAARC Charters to accommodate dialogue on crucial bilateral and multilateral issues. Representatives of rights organizations who delivered speech from the human chain includes Mustafa Kamal Akanda of Jubilee South, Noman Ahmed Khan of IED, Omar Tarek Chowdhury and Shamsul Alam Sajjan of BNPS, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and Shamsuddoha of EquityBD, Monju Rani Pramanik of SUPRO, Faisal Bin Majid of SAAPE, Abdul Quader Hazari of Arpon and Nazrul Islam Dali of Soha.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury condemned Bhutan Government, host of the 16th SAARC Summit, for not allowing civil society to organize Peoples’ SAARC and other peoples’ activities in Thimpu. He called the Bhutanese Government to declare and respect repatriation rights of 80,000 Bhutanese refugees who are languishing their lives in Nepal boarders. He also said that if commodity and capital could move freely, the people especially the climate-forced migrants also should have free access to all countries. Noman Ahmed Khan said that South Asia is endowed with immense natural resources, these resources should not be meant for corporations and elites, it should be meant and managed with common strategy for poverty eradication in the region. Omar Tareque Chowdhury reminded the historical linkages and one origin of South Asian culture. Shamsul Alam Sajjan appealed the South Asian leaders to review what tangible they have achieved in last twenty-five years. Monju Rani Pramanik expressed her expectation for a concrete plan on common climate strategy. Fesial Bin Majid termed the official SAARC as a limited club of South Asian rulers. He demanded a drastic regional wise cut in military expenditure and channeling this money for poverty eradication in the region.
Besides this Human Chain, Bangladesh National Committee on Peoples’ SAARC organized several other programs in Dhaka like a press conference on 15th April, cultural program in Dhaka University Campus on 18 April and national seminar on 19 April. Civil Society Organizations across the South Asia also organized different peoples’ events in their capitals, which culminated to a regional assembly in Delhi from 20 to 23 April 2010.
Participation of Equitybd in the Peoples’ SAARC Summit in Delhi
On the eve of the 16th SAARC Summit to be held in Thimpu, Bhutan on 28 – 29 April 2010, the South Asian CSO leaders are organizing Peoples’ SAARC summit in Delhi on 23 & 24 April 2010. In this context Peoples’ SAARC Bangladesh Chapter has organized several events in Dhaka, which includes- press conference on 17 April, cultural Program on 18 April and National Seminar on 19 April. From these events CSO leaders in Bangladesh called the South Asian Governments to bring out SAARC from the grip of bureaucracy and make the SAARC for the well-being of the common people of the South Asia. They also demanded Visa Free South to foster solidarity and people-to-people contact. CSO leader from Bangladesh, including representative from EquityBD, are also participating in the Peoples’ SAARC Summit in Delhi.
Besides, EquityBD has developed several policies brief on the emerging common issues of the South Asian countries; Please find the policy briefs at below
[Management_of_common_resource] [SAARC_Agriculture] [SAARC_Regional_integration] [South_Asia_peace]
Bring-out SAARC from the Grip of Bureaucracy
Dhaka, 19 April 2010: Today in a seminar held in CIRDAP Auditorium Dhaka, People’s SAARC Bangladesh National Committee, a coalition of right groups called on the governments of the South Asian countries to bring-out SAARC from the corridor of bureaucracy and make the SAARC effective in the promotion of the welfare of South Asian common people. On the eve of the 16th SAARC Summit to be held in Bhutan on 28 and 29 April, alliance also urged the South Asian government to promote people-to-people contacts on a larger scale through developing South Asia a ‘visa-free region along with a free trade regime”. Dr. Rashid E Mahbub, Chairperson of Peoples’ SAARC Bangladesh National Committee, chaired; while Rokeya Kabir moderated the seminar.
Md Shamsuddoha of EquityBD, made the keynote presentation in the seminar, said, two and a half decade ago SAARC was launched with a common vision to promote regional co-operation that, basically, represents the hopes and aspiration of all common people of the region. However, in the declaration issued after first SAARC Summit, the SAARC leaders made this process conditional to ‘peace and security’, and the SAARC Charter deliberately excluded ‘bilateral or contentious issues’ from the discussion. This has to be revised, SAARC Charter to include bi-lateral contentious issues for immediate resolution. Dr. Syed Anwar Hossain, Professor, University of Dhaka and the Chief Guest of the seminar said that to the common people SAARC is not an association meant for economic cooperation alone. People of this region visualize it as an embodiment of South Asian identity. Shawkat Momen Sajahan MP, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture Ministry said that, visa free South Asia in fact will pave the free movement of labour and workers of these region, who in fact has the rights on South Asian common natural resources.
Editor Syamol Dutta said the regional bloc neither paved ways of economic growth, what the similar other organizations did in Europe and East Asia, nor accelerated regional peace, harmony and welfare of the common people. Since the inception of SAARC in 1985 major differences among the member States over the objectives and functioning of SAARC has been observed. Mistrust and bi-lateral disputes are the major blockade.Mr. M.A Mannan, former state Minster of the Government of Bangladesh and BNP lawmaker said among the South Asian countries, India and Pakistan are the main concern to the international geo-political scenario. India’s effort to gain recognition as a major international (super) power, and Pakistan’s search for security vis-à-vis India, strongly influence South Asia’s strategic environment.
KM Jahnagir, former state Minster of the Government of Bangladesh and Awami League lawmaker said since the establishment of SAARC, governments in India and Pakistan, making national security as pretext, spend more on their armed forces and purchase of military hardware, arms and ammunition than to protect their citizens against disease, poverty, unemployment, poverty and hunger. Minar Pimple, of UN Millennium Campaign said that South Asian leaders have developed SAARC Development Goals (SDGs) but these are not implementing due to resource constraints. He urged government to operatioanlize SAARC Development Fund to achieve MDGs. Rokeya Kabir the moderator of the session concluded with a demand that like other regional intergovernmental and UN bodies SAARC must create space for civil society participation in their official process. The members of the coalition includes ACD, BNPS, EquityBD, IED, INCIDIN Bangladesh, SAAPE, SUPRO, Jubilee South-APMDD, SANGAT and Unnayan Anneshan. The seminar were also spoken and attended by Noman Ahmed Khan, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Mustafizur Rahman, Omar Tarek Chowdhury, Mustafa Kamal Akhanda and Atiqul Islam Chowdhury.
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