SETU PRESS RELEASE

“Political commitment is a must to achieve the MDGs” Seminar held at Kushtia, Bangladesh

Speakers at a Seminar titled expectation and doable to achieve the MDGs organized by SUPRO (Campaign for Good Governance) on September 14, 2005 stressed the need for making WTO, WB, IMF & ADB accountable. “We are being deprived to meet the WB terms and conditions, the UNO ultimately turned into a club of the powerful” speakers blamed. Presided over by Mr. Sathi Nazrul Islam, Chair of SUPRO Kushtia district & Executive Director of Shelidah Rabindra Sangsad (SRS) the seminar was addressed among others by Advocate Anup K. Nandi, AL leader Akteruzzaman Masum, Ast. Professor Mostayedul Haque, Ex. DD of Department of Social Service Mr. Nazrul Islam, Joint secretary, Jatio Samajtantrik Dal Kushtia Mr. Golam Mohsin, Kushtia District Jatio Party (JP-Manju) Convener Jahangir Hossain. Mr. M A Quader, Secretary SUPRO Kushtia district and ED, SETU made welcome address. Key paper was presented by Syeda Habiba, Chief Executive of Joti Nari-o- Shishu Unnayan Sangstha & Sahana Ahmed Talukder, Facilitator of SETU. While addressing the seminar Adv. Anup Kumar Nandi says, the fund received as development grant must be utilized through proper plan executed in participatory way. In our country IMF, WB, ADB has been used in political motivation of the developed country. The Govt. institutions/industries have been compelled to be privatized as per the prescription of the WB. A huge volume of gas has been burnt as a result of concluding agreement with Niko a Canadian company not well expert in gas exploration. He claimed the development of the country is being hampered to a great extent in lacking of political consensus. A lion share of the foreign grant has been devoured by the foreign consultants/advisors. In deed Bangladesh has been turned into a world market but we could not enter into the world market at all. “Unconditional grant must be provided for us as that of China and India and the grant should be distributed against the respective sectors through UN in order to make the concerned people accountable” Nandi claimed. Advocate Akhteruzzaman Masum President AL, Kushtia Sodor Thana says democretic system and rule of law have to be introduced and all people have to be taken under law for establishing Good governance. It’s hard to alleviate properly from Bangladesh due to overpopulation, he opines. My party (AL) must play effective role to keep its commitment towards achieving the MDGs, Masum adds further. Mr. Nazrul Islam, Ex DD of Dept. of Social Services says, govt. is reluctant to check the price hike of oil and Bus fare. The Parliament fails to meet the people’s expectations. Accidents and disabilities are on rise in the country. The mass people must be mainstreamed in development process to reach the goal, Islam observes, Mr. Mostayedul Haque, Asst. professor of Poradah College says, emphasis the need for checking terrorism, corruption and poverty reduction through developing skilled manpower as well as removing the disparities from education sector. All the children must be enrolled in mainstream schooling. The political leaders should be united for the sake of national development, Haque appeals. Mr. Golam Mohsin, Joint Secretary, District JSD says, Good governance can only be achieved through working for the masses. The country is made hostages to the Donor country, but no development is possible in complying with their conditions. The country is in captivity to the fundamentalists and the economic crisis is on rise, Mohsin observes. Mr. Jahangir Hossain, Convener of District JP says, Grouping in the institutions is in high. All should be united irrespective of political affiliation for establishing good governance, should sit in roundtable in case of need, Hossain opines. In his introductory speech Mr. M. A. Quader, District Secretary of SUPRO and ED, SETU says, The UN has ultimately turned as the club of the big power. The conditional and debt of high interest rate has been hampering our development process. The politicians must have to play key role in achieving the MDGs. Among others the seminar was addressed by Ms. Aktari Sultana, Coordinator, CDL, Kushtia, Amirul Islam, General Secretary, District Cultural Academy, Adv. Mokarrom Hossain (Lal), Journalist Shakhawat Ibn Moyeen Chowdhury. Two documentary films Meting the Challenge and Target 2015 were also shown in the seminar. setunews@setubd.org www.setubd.org