8th April 2010: Today a press conference was held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity,Conference Hall titled “Democracy in a Global World” at 11am -12noon which was jointly organized by “Give your Vote” and “Equitybd”. to lunch…
Europeaon Union Position on MDTF is Neo Colonial
Dhaka, 15 March February 2010. Today, an alliance of twenty rights organizations, led by EquityBD, criticized a recent statement of the Ambassador of the European Union, Mr. Stefan, while he suggested the World Bank to manage the country’s Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) on a temporary basis. The alliance also condemned the EU for imposing conditionality to include the WB in the management of MDTF. They termed EU position on MDTF as neo-colonial as they have been consistently pushing Bangladesh to accept World Bank to manage the multi donor trust fund. The rights organizations expressed such views through organizing human chain and rally in front of the National Press Club. Mostafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD moderated the rally while, among others, Prodip K Roy, Feroze Ahmed, Shipra Das, Tusar Ahmed, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Md. Shamsuddoha and Sahadat Islam Chowdhury sopke.
The organizations of the rights groups include; Arpon, AMKS, Eso, Bangladesh Krishak Federation, CSRL, EquityBD, Kishani Shova, Lead Trust, On line knowledge center, Potikrit, La via campesina, MFTD, Prantik, Purbasha, RCASV, Swadin Bangla Garments Sromik Federation, Solidarity Workshop, Sirajgonj Flood Forum, Uddipan and EquityBD
Prodip K Roy of Online Knowledge Center mentioned that statement from the EU Ambassador and State Minister for Environment and Forest on the management of MDTF is contradictory, while Minister mentioned the government of Bangladesh will have sole authority over the fund.
Feorze Ahmed of Lead Trust mentioned that, two third of the World Bank projects still on fossil fuel projects, which are causing carbon emission. Moreover most of the World Bank project in Bangladesh is failed project, so the WB should not be involved with any projects anymore. Shipra Das of Kishani Shova mentioned that, EU and other developed countries are the major carbon polluter they must compensate first and they should not put any condition in this context. Tusar Rehman of Citizen Rights Movement mentioned that, government must maintain sovereignty in climate fund and such a fund should be channeled through independent foundation.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD mentioned that, until unless government will not finalize the management modalities of MDTF the movement will continue. Md. Shasuddoha of EquityBD mentioned that while there are best country examples of managing donor fund through independent foundation then why we should hand over our sovereign ownership on fund management to the WB and, why we should pay fees to the Bank. Sahadat Islam Chowdhury of Pradip concluded the rally, and thanked to the participating organization.
Please Download Press Release [English] [Bangla] [Position Paper]
International Mother Language Day 2010
oday the Equity and Justice Working Group (EquityBD) brought out a rally to pay respect to the martyrs of the International Mother Language Day 2010
Rights Group called the Government to clarify WB on MDTF
Dhaka, 18th February 2010. Today, an alliance of eleven rights organizations, called the government to make clear the role of the World Bank in the management of country’s Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF). The alliance, led by Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh, made this call through organizing a press conference in the National Press Club, Dhaka. They also criticized the role of the country’s development partners and termed their approach ‘colonial’ as they have been consistently pushing Bangladesh to accept World Bank to manage the multi donor trust fund.
The rights groups are; CSRL, EquityBD, Lead Trust, On line knowledge Center, La via Campesina, Prantik, RCASV, Swadin Bangla Garments Sromik Federation, Uddipan, and Voice,
In a written press statement, secretary general of EquityBD, Md Shmasuddoha, said that since the establishment of MDTF in September 2008, the major contributors to this fund, the UK government, and also other EU countries, has been creating pressure to the government to channel this fund through the World Bank. The local development agent of the UK government, the DfID, is insisting so against the wishes of the government. In this backdrop the rights groups both in the UK and Bangladesh criticized such a role of the developed countries. They claimed that the rich countries want to steer the management of climate fund trough establishing authority of their allied forces, the IFIs, in its management.
Although the government of Bangladesh opposed such donors condition earlier, but, after the recently held ‘Bangladesh Development Forum’ meeting it seems that government is going to accept WB’s role on MDTF in the name of Technical Assistance from the Bank. In a joint briefing with the development partners, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said ‘technical and fiduciary management of the fund might be given to the WB. Such statement is just opposite to the government’s previous position and, we presume that donors in the BDF meet make the country bound to accept the WB’s role on the MDTF.
Speakers from the press conference raised the question on the necessity of technical assistance for the WB for such a small amount of trust fund while Bangladesh has proven experiences of managing huge volume county’s development budget by its own. Accepting WB under such a ground is a lame excuse and this is just to satisfy donor’s whim. Speakers urged the government to make the role of the WB on MDTF public. They also demanded a unified country position, irrespective of political differences, against donor’s hegemony and their colonial approach.
Among others, Badrul Alam of La Via Campesina, Shahadat Islam of PRADIP, Mustafa Kamal Akanda, Sanat Kumar Bhowmik of EquityBD spoke in the press conference.
Please Download Press Release [English] [Bangla] [Position Paper]
Make the aid reaching poor, transparent and locally accountable
Dhaka, 16th February 2010. Today EquityBD, along with twenty one other right based organizations, organized a rally and human chain in front of national press club, Dhaka in parallel to the on going ‘Bangladesh Development Forum’ meet while they claimed that the development partners in Bangladesh and their allied elite class and bureaucrats are responsible for misuse of foreign aid and they made the country increasingly indebted since the liberation of Bangladesh. The organizers demanded sovereign, democratic and responsible financing to ensure that the benefit of aid and loans reaches the poor through a transparent and accountable manner. The protesting rights organizations are; Arpan, AMKS, Eso, Bangladesh Krishak Federation, CSRL, EquityBD, Kishani Sohva, Lead Trust, On line knowledge centre, Protikrit, Karmajibi Nari, La via campesina, MFTD, Prantik, Purbasha, RCSV, Swadin Bangla Garments Sramik Federation, Solidarity Workshop, Sirajgaonj Flodd Forum, Uddipan, Voice, and World Development Movement – UK.
This group also organized similar type of rally yesterday simultaneously in Dhaka and London. In London World Development Movement, Friends of the Earth, Jubilee Debt Campaign and Christian Aid organized the demonstration in front of the DFID office, while they urged DFID not to press government of Bangladesh to accept climate funds through the World Bank.
In a written statement the organizers mentioned that Bangladesh has right to have development aid, but a lion share of foreign aid misuses and repatriates to the aid providing countries in the form consultancy and technical assistance fees. A study, conducted by Prof Abul Barkat, reveals that 30 % of the aid goes to donor country, 25 % goes to the bureaucrats, 25 % goes to the local elites and politicians and only 20 % reaches to the poor. Such a misuse has been happening for unexpected control of the financing by the donors and their allied bureaucrats. The urged the government and donors to follow sovereign, democratic and responsible financing. They propose a charter in this regard which contains specific demands like, (i) all aid and loan money have to be discussed and approved in parliament, at present there is no such a obligation in the constitution, (ii) all loan and aid agreement have to be transparent and accessible by mass public, but no such provision in the Right to Information Act, which is in place now, (iii) separate audit commission to audit foreign aid and loan project and all audit reports on foreign aid and loan projects have to make public by Comptroller and Auditor General Office, (iv) during implementation foreign aided project in local level spaces for participation of beneficiaries, local government representatives and civil society organizations should be ensured, (v) there should be a legal limit of receiving loan both from foreign and domestic source, as in no way it should not hinder investment in essential service sector like health and education. Speakers also urged that project serving mutual interest both of the aid recipient and loan providing countries should not be with loan money, it must be grant.
Mustafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD moderated the rally while Babdurl Alam of La Via Campesina, Feroza Ahmed from Lead Trust, Farzana Akhter from Voice, Saleha Begum from Kishani Sohva, SM Mamun of Karmajibi Nari, Abdul Kader Hazari of Arpan, Syed Aminul Haque, Md. Shamsuddoha and Rezaul K Chowdhury of EquityBD spoke.
Please Download [English] [Bangla] [PositionPaper]
Pay your carbon debt: keep your commitment
Dhaka, 15th February 2010. Today twenty one civil society organizations (CSO), in a rally and human chain in front of national press club, called upon the developed country representatives and donors, who are participating in Bangladesh Development Forum BDF, to pay their carbon debt as compensation. Speakers from the Human Chain said that Bangladesh is facing most catastrophic caused by climate change, which is the result of high carbon emissions historically by the developed countries. They also claimed that developed countries are indebted to the people of Bangladesh and they should pay their carbon debt. The rally blamed that, developed countries are not keeping their commitment in supporting the climate change affected countries; they remind them to keep their commitment. Mustafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD moderated the rally where Badrul Alam of La Via Campesina, Feroz Ahmed of Lead Trust, Prodip Roy of On Line knowledge Center, Shamsuddoha and Rezaul K. Chowdhury of EquityBD also spoke.
From the human chain the organizers released a joint statement developed by twenty one organization which includes Arpon, AMKS, Eso, Bangladesh Krishak Federation, CSRL, EquityBD, Kishani Shova, Lead Trust, On line knowledge center, Potikrit, La via campesina, MFTD, Prantik, Purbasha, RCASV, Swadin Bangla Garments Sromik Federation, Solidarity Workshop, Sirajgonj Flood Forum, Uddipan, Voice, EquityBD and World Development Movement -UK. In the statement they mentioned that in the recent years Bangladesh is facing frequent and more intense cyclonic disaster which has clear link with the climate change. Cyclone SIDR in Bangladesh in 2007 caused death of 4000 lives and $ 1.7 billions of economic loss. Again cyclone AILA in Bangladesh in 2009 caused death of 150 lives and $ 1.5 billions of economic loss. But so far Bangladesh has received less then 20 % of the economic loss caused by these disasters. Such huge economic fall back making the country bound to seek fund from the IFIs and other developed countries. Meantime Bangladesh already indebted in such a way that the country has to pay 20 % of its revenue budget as debt servicing liabilities, which is much higher than its annual health and education budget. Speakers mentioned that debt business, capitalizing the climate crisis, by the developed countries is injustice. The developed countries did injustice historically by utilizing more atmospheric space and global public goods that their fair shares.
Simultaneous rally also organized in front of DFID office in London. This rally is jointly organized by World Development Movement (WDM), Jubilee Debt Campaign UK, Friends of the Earth and Christian Aid. They criticized the role of DFID as this organization is pressing Government of Bangladesh to allow World Bank to manage to multi donor trust fund on climate change. This is to mention that, in response to a joint call by EquityBD and WDM, thousands of people in the UK sent e-mail to the UK Prime Minister for not challenging climate funds for Bangladesh through the World Bank. The also called to their government to allocate climate fund in addition to the existing ODA commitment of the UK government.
Organizers declared that they will organize similar rally and human chain in front of press club tomorrow 16th February, demanding sovereign, democratic and responsible financing to make aid reaching to poor, transparent and locally accountable.
Please Download Press Release [English] [Bangla] [Leaflet]
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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
[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
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
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
Copenhagen, 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.
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