15 July 2012, Khulna - Bangladesh has been supported by various
developmental agencies since its birth. This developmental aid model has taken
lead by World Bank and ADB. While the World Bank was being sued, the ADB has
been critically evaluated its supported projects by common citizen and CSOs in
Bangladesh. Looking at increasing role of ADB in Bangladesh, more than 23
member organizations of NGO Forum on ADB sat together and devised a short term
and long-term strategic plan in Khulna for the first time.
“It's a wonderful moment when we, the maximum members of
Bangladesh join here to develop an advocacy strategy and action plan. We must
work together to make it successful.” – said Mr. Amit Ranjan Dey, the
Coordinator of Nagorik Uddyog.
The two days elaborated an extensive consultation among the groups
and produced a one-year strategic plan for the members with a steering
committee to manage the implementation of the strategic plan. The said meeting
allowed Bangladesh chapter to form a Steering Committee of 7 members and 4
thematic groups on Water, Climate change, Agriculture, and Energy.
The first day consultation, facilitated by Dr. Avilash Roul,
was devised to abreast the policies of ADB including the latest Safeguard
Policy Statement, Public Communication Policy, Accountability Mechanism Policy,
Water Policy and Agriculture, Water, Climate Change and Power sector in
Bangladesh with last decades campaign and advocacies on ADB’s critical projects
and programs. It has been discussed at length on the strengths and weakness of
the CSOs as well as the network for better understanding of the present
tumultuous time of development and governance in the context of local, regional
and global scenario. The experts delivered the key available or existing tools on
the campaign and advocacy on ADB Policies, Programs and Projects.
Shariful Islam Salim of Humanitywatch questioned on whether ADB's
loan in Climate Change through PPCR is legal or not, because Bangladesh Climate
Change Policy strictly expressed that the country doesn't take any loan for
adaptation nor mitigation.
The Second day, facilitated by Ziaul Hoque Mukta, delved into
preparing a yearlong strategy to demand for sustainable participatory
development for most vulnerable country. In a remarkable inclus
ive fashion, members present during the
consultation zeroed in key thematic issues such as water, agriculture and
natural resources, climate change and Power. A steering committee formed to
steer the campaign on these issues and lead the network towards the ADB Annual
General Meeting in Delhi 2013.
ive fashion, members present during the
consultation zeroed in key thematic issues such as water, agriculture and
natural resources, climate change and Power. A steering committee formed to
steer the campaign on these issues and lead the network towards the ADB Annual
General Meeting in Delhi 2013.
“This platform is the best place to integrate both groups, because
many of the groups are campaigning against ADB while some other groups are
working to reform it in favour of the people”, said Mr. M Aamanur Rahman,
Deputy Director of ActionAid Bangladesh.
The 'Delhi Chalo' campaign kick starts by the Bangladesh members
of Forum with élan of four case studies on devastating projects of ADB in
Agriculture, Water, Climate Change and Energy Sector, and a peoples tribunal on
ADB.
Advice from ADB web site passed on by Bobet Coral
