7th August 2021, EquityBD, has submitted its comments to LDC-5 Co-Chairs on zero draft Doha Program of Action. LDC-5 conference will be held in Doha in January 2022. Following the event, EquityBD drafted a position paper for LDCs issues.
Please find the zero draft Doha Program of Action and EquityBD position.
Dhaka, 05 August 2021. As Bangladesh is graduating from LDC in 2024, the country will need to comply with the World Trade Organization (WTO) mandated Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. As LDC Bangladesh is enjoying exemption from the patent rights and conditions set by the TRIPs. After graduation from LDC, WTO should continue that exemption for Bangladesh as it will also be helpful for other LDC countries. Today speakers at a virtual workshop opined this. The virtual workshop titled Emerging Issues in Access to Treatment for Covid-19 in Bangladesh was jointly organized by Equity BD, People’s Health Movement Bangladesh and the Third World Network.
The workshop was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD and Prathibha Sivasubramanian of TWN made the welcome speech. While and Dr. Rashid-E-Mahbub, Former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Rabbur Reza, Chief Operating Officer, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd s, Ranja Sengupta of Third World Network, Sudip Chaudhuri (former Professor, Indian Institute of Management (Kolkata), and K.M. Gopakumar, Senior Researcher and Legal advisor, Third World Network, Zakir Hossain of People’s Health and Ziaul Haque Mukta, Members Secretary of Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods also spoke at the occasion.
Dr. Rashid-E-Mahbub said, we need a global socialistic view to ensuing vaccination for all. We need vaccines on an equity basis, not on a profit base. The UN should work to lift WTO restrictions on vaccines and the Bangladesh government should also take an effective policy to ensure vaccines for all.
Rabbur Reza said, pharma industry is a success story for Bangladesh and it has proven its resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are preparing ourselves to face the future challenges, to be in the forefront of the global generic pharma market. We are also focusing on building sufficient capabilities for medical products such as modern vaccines, biotherapeutics like monoclonal antibodies, medical devices and diagnostics.
K.M. Gopakumar said, people in developing countries and LDCs need access to vaccines and other health products to survive the pandemic, which requires widespread availability of these health products. TRIPS waiver offers the policy space to do away with the IP monopoly and facilitate the scaling up or production through diversification of the manufacturing base. Further, there is an urgent need to negotiate a smooth transition period for graduating LDCs to address concerns on matters affecting peoples’ health.
Sudip Chaudhuri, former Professor, Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata said, the rise and growth of the pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh is a great achievement. Continuation of the product patent exemption in pharmaceuticals will help not only Bangladesh but other countries as well.
Ziaul Haque Mukta said, TRIPS waiver for Bangladesh doesn’t give benefit only for Bangladesh, it is directly benefiting also developed countries along with other LDCs and developing countries as these countries can import low-cost medicines from Bangladesh. Zakir Hossain said, in terms of amount, allocation for the health sector is increasing but it still 0.95% of the total GDP, which very low. We need to invest more with ensuring proper utilization. We have seen 24% of the allocation is unutilized. To fight COVID 19 pandemic, we need to equip the Upazila level hospitals, we also need to arrange mass awareness at the village level.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said, in Bangladesh, we recognize the role of the private sector in the health sector of Bangladesh, but we need to ensure public investment and management dominance in this sector. medical goods for COVID 19 pandemic must be declared as global goods.
Please Download [English] [Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Industry_Rabbur Reza] [The WTO, Trade and Health_Ranja Sengupta] [TRIPS, Access to Medicine and LDCs_KM Gopakumar ]
Newslink
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
awdasasdsd
dsfdf
df
f
The Sustainable Development Report 2021 ranked Bangladesh as one of the countries that improved most on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index since 2015 until the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to this report, published recently by the Cambridge University Press, Bangladesh ranked 109th among the 165-country. In South Asia, Bangladesh is above India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, but below Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives. Along with successes in terms of achieving the SDGs, there are huge problems based on the reports so far published regarding the SDGs. Along with challenges like data gaps, this report will also discuss some other challenges in achieving the SDGs of Bangladesh. These challenges will include: development inequality, climate change, corruption, and illicit fund flows.
This is a draft report prepared by EquityBD for the Social Watch Review. (Full Report)
Dhaka, 12 June 2021. Coastal Members of Parliament (MPs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and experts urged a budget allocation of at least BDT 15000 crore from revenue in the national budget 2021-22 for the coastal protection, particularly for climate-resilient embankment construction. Today from a virtual seminar, speakers also suggested that the government develop an embankment maintenance strategy and ensure effective involvement of local government in the process. The seminar was organized jointly by COAST Foundation, Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL), Center for Participatory Research & Development (CPRD), and Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN).
Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP and the Chair of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change was the Chief Guest of the seminar while it was moderated by Mr. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of COAST and Ziaul Hoque Mukta of CSRL. Mr. Narayon Chandra Chanda MP Khulna-5, Mr. Mir Mushtaque Ahmed Robi MP Satkhira-2, Mr. Nurunnabi Chowdhury MP Bhola-3, Mr. Nahim Razzaq MP Shariatpur-3, Mr. Asheq Ullah Rafiq MP Cox’s Bazar-2, Mr. Shameem Haider Patwary MP Gaibandha-1, Mr. Zafar Alam MP Cox’s Bazar-1, Dr. Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus BRAC University, Md Shamsuddoha of CPRD and Hasan Mehedi of CLEAN also spoke at the occasion. The keynote was presented by Syed Aminul Hoque of COAST.
In a keynote presentation, Aminul Hoque of COAST said that, every year cyclone and monsoon floods are damaging the livelihood structures of the coastal areas and cause suffering of the coastal people. But the government has ignored the sufferings and proposing a conventional budget for embankment construction which is not appropriate to address the issues. He put three demands, such as (i) Government have to allocate at least BDT 150 billion [15000 crore] every year as the minimum requirement for embankment construction (ii) Local governments have to be given mandate with a budget for embankment maintenance and (iii) Govt. should have a plan of alternatives for coastal protection especially for natural protection, skill-oriented education to facilitate employment for the coastal population while they migrate, govt should also ensure ith water & sewerage facilities in cities.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP said that a national risk assessment is needed that will support the government in allocating appropriate resources. He demanded a roadmap on this issue along with preparing an embankment policy.
Dr.Ainun Nishat said, political biases should be minimized for prioritization and budget allocation that is absent in embankment planning. The projects under the “Delta Plan” have been taken without consideration of local knowledge. Mir Mushtaque Ahmed Robi MP said, investment in coastal protection will return double. So the budget must be increased.
Asheq Ullah Rafiq MP said, we are unable to ensure tidal surge based forecasting. That’s why some areas of Cox’s Bazar district were affected and damaged recently. We need a district-wise budget for the embankment. MP Nahim Razzaq said, comprehensive water management system and planning is very essential to reduce the effect of coastal disaster. This only possible by ensuring inter-ministerial coordination. We can form a “Caucus” with coastal MPs to strengthen the advocacy on this issue. Shameem Haider Patwary MP said that embankment construction strategy and approach will have to be integrated with all sort of economic activities than it will get priority to government.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury called for a long-term integrated and eco-system-based disaster risk reduction program for coastal protection, which would include migration-facilitated education for coastal residents. According to Ziaul Hoque Mukta, embankments must be evaluated and prioritized based on disaster impact, and solutions must take into account the agro-ecological settings There should be coordination in the planning and implementation where NGOs, people representatives also be a part of the government.
[Bangla press release] [English press release] [Seminar Presentation]
Newslink:
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Dhaka, 05 June 2021. Today right based civil society organizations and networks leaded by EquityBD has organized an online press conference on national budget 2021-22 and termed the proposed revenue collection policies is business as usual and against the principles of redistributive justice following existing pandemic and increasing poverty context. They demanded government to stop capital flight and enhance revenue mobilization. They also opined that reforming Bank Sector is fundamental to strengthen governance practice in achieving the goal.
The press conference was moderated by EquityBD Chief Moderator Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, key note paper is read out by Ahsanul Karim of same organization. Among the others, Md. Abdul Awal from SUPRO [Campaign for Good Governance], Md. Hasan Mehedi of CLEAN [Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network], Syed Aminul Hoque of EquityBd and Md. Mostafa Kamal Akand from COAST Foundation spoke in the press conference.
Ahsanul Karim said in his key note presentation, government proposed BDT 3.30 trillion Revenue mobilization through NBR [National Board of Revenue] and stepping to expand tax and VAT net in rural areas but did not mention any word how recovery approach of poor and middle classes suffering due to corona pandemic and pressurized by increasing trend of livelihood expenditures. This is a discriminatory approach in present situation of unemployment and redistributive justice. Better government should declare at least VAT exemption on daily essentials those will make easy the livelihood pressure of poor and middle classes. He put five demand relating the issue are (i). Strengthen governance mechanism and its practices in financial sector especially in bank sector to stop the over or under invoicing and capital flight, (ii). Capacitate NBR with modern technologies to strengthen the income tax collection, (iii). Declare VAT exemption for poor and middle classes at least on ten daily essentials, (iv). Declare unemployment allowance for job losers as direct financial support package and (v). Government must take necessary step in reducing corruption in all sector specially focusing on public procurement practices.
Abdul Awal said that government’s development ideology and budgeting plan is somehow unable to reach the poor and marginal people. We facilitate the riches those are tax dodger and engage with capital flight activities. So it’s needed to stop tax dodging at first and govt. should step accordingly to work with NBR.
Hasan Mehedi opined that country debt burden is now around 40% of GDP and the proposed borrowing plan will increase the burden again indeed. He also mention the health sector is failed to face corona crisis despite supported around 37,000 crore [US$ 4.3 billion] through loan in last fiscal year.
Aminul Hoque said that Bank sector is core associate in most cases for trade misinvoicing and illegal capital flight. So that reformation is fundamental to stop this phenomenon. He also recommended government to ensure a fair and competitive environment in economic and business sector to control profiteering. Rezaul Karim said that government has created confusion continuously on black money whitening but it was not say anything in proposed budget on how to stop capital flight which could be a great source of resource mobilization. This is an injustice in view of our principle of liberation war.
[Position Paper] [Presentation]
[Bangla Press] [English Press] [Video]
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | |
On 20th May COAST Executive Director and EquityBD Chief Moderator Rezaul Karim Chowdhury as a member of LDC Watch presented climate change focus for preparation of LDC 5 / Doha Plan of Action in front of two Co-Chair Ambassador Rabab Fatim and Ambassador Bob Rae. Please find the note here.
 |  |
Dhaka 17 April 2021: Today a virtual seminar titled “Leaders’ Summit on Climate Change and Civil Society Expectations” is organized by COAST Foundation, CSRL (Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood), CLEAN-BD [Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network], BIPNet-CCBD [Bangladesh Indigenous People Network on Climate Change & Biodiversity] and CPRD [Centre for Participatory Research and Development], where climate change expert, policy maker and civil society members urged our Prime Minister [PM] to speak for “A Global Regime on Climate Displacement” in upcoming US president hosted Leaders’ Summit on Climate. They also request PM to take position on 1.5 degree Celsius as target limit in global warming.
The virtual seminar is chaired by Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman of PKSF (Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation) and Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP (Member of Parliament) and the Chair of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change as Chief Guest. Seminar is moderated by Mr. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury from COAST Foundation where Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary MP Gaibandha-1, Dr. Atiq Rahman Executive Director-BCAS, Dr. Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus BRAC University, Dr. Manjurul Hannan Khan former Additional Secretary, Ministry of EF & CC, Mr. Sharif Jamil, General Secretary- BAPA, Md Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive-CPRD, Ziaul Hoque Mukta of CSRL, Mr. Mrinal Kanti Tripura, BIPNet-CCBD, Hasan Mehedi of CLEAN-BD and Mr. Kawser Rahman- BCJF have participated and spoke.
In a key note presentation, Syed Aminul Hoque from COAST said that US indeed have to show the best example on climate action especially reducing GHG [Green House Gases] emission, financing to the MVCs [Most Vulnerable Countries] adaptation & mitigation effort to take global leadership. He put some demand those are (I) US [United State] will enhance their NDC up to 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching the “net zero” by 2050 (ii) Declare own country share [03 billion] for US$ 100 billion in GCF and promise to facilitate the GCF 50% for adaptation and (iii) US self-declaration to relax and ensure IPR [Intellectual Property Rights] Flexibility for Technology transfer to MVCs adaptation & mitigation effort.
Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said that as the CVF chair Bangladesh will address their climate vulnerabilities in upcoming Leaders’ Summit. Apart we should claim finance & technologies for adaptation, removing GCF procrastination to channelize the fund for MVCs and oppose to include the L&D [Loss & Damage] issues in adaptation related negotiation process under Paris Agreement (PA).
Saber Hossain Chowdhury said the Biden called summit is an acid test for us to facilitate multilateralism in climate action. So that we should take position for 1.5 degree temperature cap for US and other big emitters and it should be under specific target of actions by 2030. He also gives importance to set the peak year period to achieve the target.
Dr. Ainun Nishat opine that Bangladesh may not benefited dealing the market mechanism under PA. Rather give attention to finance and climate migration as the US has taken the migration issue seriously. Dr. Atiq Rahaman criticized US to forget their last four years role and carbon emission and now trying to make window dressing in the name of summit. Ziaul Hoque Mukta demand Separate Regime for Climate displacement. Shamsuddoha and Kawser Ahemed also urged PM role to make CVF as negotiation group in PA implementation process.
Member of Parliament Barrister Shamim Patwary concerned for extinction due to climatic impact. These issues need to uphold in the Leaders’ Summit. Fund should be placed through multilateral negotiation to ensure our protection. Hasan Mehedi demand urgent action to stop US investors in carbon emitting project investment as they emitting GHG 117 fold higher globally comparing their domestic emission.
Manjurul Hannan opine the developed countries will implement their dirty projects by MVCs in the name emission trading that shouldn’t accepted. So that we should emphasis to enhance their NDCs.
Please download Related paper [Bangla Press] [English Press] [Presentation] [Seminar Video] [Civil Society Proposal]
Newspaper link:
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
Seminar: National Strategy on Disaster and Climate Induced Internal Displacement Management [Government Draft] and Civil Society OpinionVenue: CIRDAP Auditorium (Old Building), Dhaka Date & Time: 02 November 2019, 10.30-13.30hr Related Documents: 1. Seminar Outline_Govt. National Strategy on Internal Displacement Management [Draft]_02 Nov at CIRDAP_updated 31th October 2. [Government National Strategy [Draft] on the Management of Disaster and Climate Induced Internal Displacement (NSMDCIID)_English 3. [Government National Strategy [Draft] on the Management of Disaster and Climate Induced Internal Displacement (NSMDCIID)_Bangla Summary translation 4. COAST Review Paper on Draft NSMDCIID_Updated 30 Oct 2019 5. COAST Power Point Presentation on NSMDCIID_Updated 30 Oct 2019 6. Global Compact on Migration [GCM]_Bangla Summary_translation
[vc_button title=”COAST Relief Operation for Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN)” target=”_blank” color=”blue” size=”size_large” href=”http://coastbd.net/coast-relief-operation”]
Dhaka, 22 February 2021: BDCSO Process calls for building a local civil society with Self dignity while observing the International Mother Language Day. The network arranged a series of online discussion in 4 divisions while CCNF in Cox’s Bazar and COAST Foundation arranged a staff conference as the gathering to Shaheed Minars was restricted due to COVID-19.
The core spirit of 1952 Language Movement and the sacrifice of lives is the appreciation of self-dignity and breaking the shackle of oppression. The declaration of 21 February as the International Mother Language Day brought Internationalism and Universality of human right onto it. Taking this broader spirit into account BDCSO Process, CCNF and COAST Foundation organized these activities for observing this day with a vision to build a conscious civil society in the country with self-esteem.
Major district level CSO NGO participated to the virtual discussions arranged by their divisional committee on 21 and 22 February. CCNF (Cox’s Bazar CSO NGO Forum) organized a separate online discussion in Cox’s Bazar focusing the special scenario there. COAST Trust on 21 February evening organized a separate virtual meeting for around 500 staff members.
Being chaired by Mr. Abu Murshed Chowdhury, Co-Chair of CCNF, the speakers of the meeting in Cox’s Bazar urged the international agencies including UN to facilitate Bangla as the official language for the humanitarian and development interventions. They said that the locals hardly can participate to the meetings while it is conducted in English.
Mr. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Chief Moderator of BDCSO Process and Mustafa Kamal Akanda, DIrector of COAST Foundation were present in all the virtual meetings held at divisional level on behalf of the central secretariat. Belal Hossain of Prottasha moderated the meeting of Khulna, Sayda Yasmin of AFAD moderated the meeting of Rangpur, Khandaker Faruk Ahmed moderated the meeting of Mymensingh and Shuvankar Chakrabarti and Anwar Jahid led the meeting in Barishal. The meeting for COAST Foundation staff members was moderated by Mr. Sanat Kumar Bhowmik, Deputy Executive Director.
A leaflet titled “The Spirit of 21 February Makes Us Brave and Self-Reliant” was prepared and sent to the participants beforehand so that they can discuss on it. The content of the leaflet facilitated the discussion how the spirit of 21 February is aligned with building the local level CSO to be self-esteemed. The text solicited the local CSOs not to lose their dignity while applying for foreign fund since they are motivated to a great cause for the society. Rather they would rethink to mobilizing local resources and build a sustainable CSO.
BDCSO Process, EQUITYBD, CCNF and COAST Trust also attended to the Shaheed Minars in the morning to put their wreath on the mound and they followed the COVID-19 restrictions as instructed. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said in his speech that, BDCSO Process from now on will observe all the national days and will correlate the spirit of the day with their organizational motto. This initiative would help the young generation to be patriotic and the local CSO/ NGO would more self-esteemed to serve the local people.
Please download related paper [Bangla Press] [English Press] [Leaflet]
Photos:
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
