Eminent economist Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said 50-60 million people are still very poor in the country despite anti-poverty efforts by NGOs.
“Bangladesh has achieved success in many sectors and the rural economy is a real boost”, he said while addressing a national convention in the city on Friday. The convention was organized by Oxfam and five partner NGOs at BIAM auditorium under the banner “Second National Convention on State and People’s Responsibility to secure citizens’ rights on Public Services”.
Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haque Mostafa Shahid attended as the chief guest at the programme, according to a press release.
Chaired by Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman, Rasheda K Choudhury, former advisor to caretaker government, Abu Sayeed Khan, managing editor of the Daily Samakal, Gareth Price-Jones Country Director of Oxfam, also spoke in the morning session.
Addressing in the morning session, Enamul Haque Mostafa urged all the NGOs to work with coordination to have greater impact of development.
He said: ”NGOs like Oxfam are contributing to the development of the country but because of lack of coordination among the NGOs, we as a nation are still lagging behind. Coordination of works will also avoid the duplication of works.”
His ministry can coordinate the works, he added.
Rasheda K Choudhury emphasized on the Right to Education Act for development. She said: ”All the successes will be in vain if the Right to Education Act is not in place.” She highlighted the importance of education for indigenous and also for the people in haor (wetland) areas.
In opening session, MA Halim Miah, senior policy specialist of Advocacy unit of BRAC, presented a key-note paper titled ‘Access to agriculture extension services of marginalized farmers”.
Professor MM Akash of Dhaka University, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Executive Director of BELA, Shyamal Kanti Ghosh, Director General, Directorate of Primary Education, addressed in the closing session.
-With The Independent input
