Against IFIs

Wednesday, February 8, 2006

Tanim Ahmed - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2006/feb/08/front.html

Members of the civil society said the World Bank, along with some other global lending agencies, should be brought to justice for their misdeeds in Bangladesh.
Activists, lawyers and researchers, at a press briefing of the Alliance against World Bank Immunity on Tuesday, said their movement was no more only limited to stopping the government from giving the World Bank legal immunity. They said the lending agency should be brought to trial.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Staff Correspondent - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2005/dec/10/front.html

The LDCs@MC6, a platform of civil society organisations, will keep an eye on negotiators of the least developed countries as well as those from developed and developing countries during the sixth ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation scheduled in Hong Kong, December 13-18.
The announcement was made at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Friday.

1. The government of Bangladesh has drafted a law regarding giving Immunity to the World Bank from all legal procedures of the country, which will be presented in the next September session of the Parliament for its approval. The law will be named as The International Financial Organization (Amendment) Act-2004.
2. In order to operate in the partner- countries Word Bank has to follow an Article of Agreement, which has approval from its Board of Directors. As per this article a law in the name of The International Financial Organization (Amendment) Act-1972, is already exists in the country. Under this law, a variety of facilities have been made available for the World Bank. For example, World Bank does not need to pay tax to the countries for it's income and properties, no legal action can be taken against any staff if he or she carries any activities as per
the order of the world bank, no immigration laws can be applied for it's non-local staff.

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Staff Correspondent - Daily Star
http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/05/15/d50515060263.htm

The World Bank (WB) seeks blanket immunity in Bangladesh just to protect itself from any legal proceedings against its anti-people activities, speakers said at a discussion at the LGED Bhaban in the city yesterday.
The WB must not be treated as a UN organisation, as it is a banking institution, they said at the discussion organised by Alliance against World Bank Immunity in the wake of possible passage of The International Financial Organisations (Amendment) Act, 2004.
An amendment to The International Financial Organisations Order of 1972, likely to be passed in the parliament, will provide the Bank with "immunity from every form of legal process."
"The WB is eager for immunity as it is aware that its actions go against people's interests,' said Mohammad Zakaria of Action Aid Bangladesh.

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Staff Correspondent - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2005/may/15/front.html

A government move to grant legal immunity to the World Bank is detrimental to the political and economic interests of the country and the citizens believing in national sovereignty and uninterrupted economic growth should, therefore, put up serious resistance against the move.
   The observation was made by different civil society groups representing economists, lawyers, journalists, development activists, industrial workers, human rights activists and peasant groups on Saturday at a seminar that came to consensus that the International Financial Organisations (Amendment) Bill providing legal immunity to the World Bank be withdrawn immediately.

Monday, May 9th, 2005

Staff Correspondent - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2005/may/09/nat.html

The Alliance against World Bank Immunity on Sunday brought out a procession from the Central Shaheed Minar, demanding of the government not to pass the International Financial Organisations Act that will grant blanket immunity to the multilateral lending agency.
Members of the alliance also held a rally near the High Court at the end of the procession.

This paper deals with the political economy of aid and conditionalities imposed by the donors such as World Bank and the IMF. It discusses the nature of aid conditionalities of different projects that enforce economic reforms, trade liberalization and privatization, and also of their negative consequences over the Bangladesh's economy. It also critically analyzes the role of global economic order in relation with bilateral and multilateral impositions and aid conditions over the poor countries.

This research paper 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 comprehensive development process of a country like Bangladesh.

It can be useful for the activists, researchers, academicians and the members of the civil and political society. Any part of this paper can used, reproduced with the simple acknowledgement.

Friday, Feb 11, 2005

Staff Correspondent - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2005/feb/11/nat.html

The National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction, draft of which has already been made, might further worsen the poverty situation by widening the existing gap between the poor and the rich, said leaders of some NGOs on Thursday.
They came up with a number of suggestions, including consultation up to division-level with the civil society, discussion in parliament and television debate especially with the opposition politicians, before finalising the draft policy.
Addressing a news conference at the National Press Club, they also demanded extension of the March 15 timeframe by May for its finalisation.

Saturday, May 08, 2004

Star Business Report
http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/05/08/d40508050145.htm

As donors meet with the government today to make commitment on aid for next fiscal, a platform of development and research organisations yesterday urged the government not to accept any assistance that is tagged with conditions.
They said although the contribution of foreign aid to gross domestic products (GDP) is less than two percent, the donors are advocating policies such as market liberalisation and opening up of services sector which 'ruin local industries'.