Archive - 2006

VOICE  conducted a critical and analytical review on the state of the water system in Bangladesh entitled ‘Water Crisis : Strategies for Bangladesh Water Future’ in 2006. The objectives of the study were to critically analyze the overall water situation and build up linkages between the policies and projects based on the theory and practices on the ground. The analysis dealt with the perspective of Bangladesh and identified the problems of the sector, and prepared a set of recommendations for future strategies to further work on the issue.

The study revealed the impacts of water projects and dams, irrigation, and also looked into the issues around water and national policy conflicts, poor people’s access to water, and the crisis people in general are facing. While people’s resistance movements are growing, we must demand safer water and a better system of water management to ensure access to water through a rights based approach.

The study has identified some of the major aspects in the water sector and analyzed where and why water issues become prevalent. It also analyzed the Khulna-Jessore Drainage Rehabilitation Project with a view to giving a voice to the local stakeholders in the whole cycle of the project.

Ahmed Swapan Mahmud

The Bangladesh Development Forum (BDF) meeting held each year which determines the policy guidelines for the development of Bangladesh. In fact, in last three decades, in the name of development the international financial institutions and the corporate agencies of rich countries also determine their aid policy for county’s development. But if we keenly observe, we see those institutions mainly got the benefit though the policies are supposed to improve the socio-economic status of the country. In fact, the poverty reduction rate is not satisfactory which is below one per cent, though both foreign aid and loan are gradually increasing. Reality is that unexpectedly, themajority of people still remain under poverty line.

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Tanim Ahmed - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2006/sep/06/nat.html

Loans and grants of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other international financial institutions are counter-productive for Bangladesh.
Politicians and activists also said the multilateral lending agencies take away more in kickbacks than what they give in loans.
They made the observations at a dialogue on the political economy of aid and its contingent conditions organised by non-governmental organisation Voice in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The Workers Party of Bangladesh general secretary, Saiful Huq, said although poverty had reportedly decreased in Bangladesh, inequality continued to increase. ‘It only means that the poorest sections are becoming poorer.’

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Staff Correspondent - Daily Star
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/09/06/d60906060580.htm

The conception of global partnership is a master-slave relationship, a hoax and illusion in the name of development that is gradually crippling the country, said the speakers at a dialogue yesterday.
The dialogue styled 'Political economy of aid challenging conditionalities' was organised by Voices of Interactive Choice and Empowerment (Voice) at the National Press Club.
"Millennium Development Goal (MDG) is not framed for development, rather it has become a tool for trade on development issues and incurring poverty", Dr Salimullah Khan, an eminent researcher, said, adding this is high time that the WB and IMF should be withdrawn and the nation has to give hard thought to alternatives. He castigated the economists who failed to frame a befitting development policy for the country.

"People of Bangladesh are made more indebted due to WB and IMF projects making them more vulnerable. But the horse of Troy remains hidden and those who own fatty lives must be detected," he urged.

August 20, 2006

Star Business Report
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/08/20/d60820050267.htm

Alliance for Economic Justice Bangladesh (AEJB) yesterday blasted World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) for interfering in the country's policy formulation and making wrong prescriptions for the development programmes.
"The projects that were implemented on the prescriptions of the WB and IMF have mounted sufferings of the people in most cases," said Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, executive director of Voice, a member organisation of the AEJB, at a press briefing at Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium in the city.
Citing the example of poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP), he explained people's aspiration has not been reflected in the PRSP because it was prepared without the participation of the people.
These international institutions are also interfering in the process of formulating national policies, including political structure, and their conditions, contrary to the national interests, are protecting the interests of the multinational companies, he alleged.

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Staff correspondent - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2006/jul/30/met.html

Demanding formulation of an act to ensure rights to information for people, the Campaign on Citizens Right to Information formed a human chain at Shahbagh on Saturday.
   Hindrance to information is creating corruption, violation of human rights in society, said the speakers adding that there are some laws which were barring access to information.

   The law commission of the country formulated a draft titled ‘Information Rights Act-2002’ in 2002 but that has remained stalled because of bureaucratic tangle while there are some limitations of the act.
   Member secretary of the committee Zakir Hossain, executive director of VOICE Ahmed Swapan Mahmud and president of the Metropolitan Bar Association advocate Abed Reza spoke.

This report critically analyzes the politics of aid, the aspects of political economy in relation to aid and conditionalities. The paper also discusses the reform agenda tied with aid such as economic reform, trade liberalization and privatization etc, which put negative impact over people’s life and livelihood. It delineates the politics of donors’ over aid to the developing countries and also describes the impact of aid conditions over Bangladesh’s economy.

This report can be used as an important campaign material against the neo-liberal economic hegemony and also against the bilateral and multilateral impositions that impede the development process of a country like Bangladesh. Any part of this paper can used, reproduced with a simple acknowledgement; it is available in Bengali and English.

Sunday, April 9, 2006

Staff Correspondent - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2006/apr/09/nat.html

Infringement of government’s responsibilities has to be detected with ensuring legal action to make the government accountable for dealing with ‘monga’ situation in the north, speakers said at a roundtable discussion on Saturday.

Our agriculture sector is facing a devastating threats due to the extreme agression and control of the multinational corporations particularly over food and seed. Already we have lost many of our species and bio-derversity caused by hybrid and extreme use of fertilizer and pesticides. The monopolization of the companies lead to people struggle that shattered their means of life and livelihood said speakers in a discussion organized by Voice in Rashidpur union parishad auditorium on 20 March 2006.
Obaidul Haq, the chairman of the Rashidpur union parishad presided over the meeting while the key note paper titled `Aggression of Multinational Companies and People’s Struggle for Life and Livelihood’ was presented by Rajib Rana Das, associate coordinator of Voice. He said the bad impacts of hybrid and monopoly of the multinational companies that are captured our agriculture sector and the whole way of life. He also mentioned that the gradual monopolization and dominance of the companies influence the national policies that keeps companies interest and go against farmers’ interest. Emphasizing not to use hybrid, fertilizer and pesticides, the key note paper also

Voice, a research and advocacy organization organized a debate titled `Not for Farmers’ Interest, Hybrid serves the Interest of MNCs’ held in Shahid Sayed Nazrul Islam College auditorium, Mymensingh on 19 March 2006. Dr. Marufi Khan, principal of the college moderated the function while she said the importance of the necessity of organizing debate over the issue of seed and agriculture which help the students to raise their critical awareness which also contribute to their academic performance. Dr. Khan also highlights how the agriculture sector is being dependent on the multinational companies and ultimately brings sorrows for the farmers and common people. She said the biodiversity, the environment and livelihood of the farmers are being facing enormous threats due the aggressive role of the multinational companies.