Development partners have suggested the government should give more emphasis to enhancing implementation capacity, civil service reforms, health, sanitation and education to successfully achieve the Agreed Action Points adopted at the last Bangladesh Development Forum meeting in February.
They also highlighted issues like export diversification, expansion of trade, human rights improvement, reducing corruption, activating climate change resilience fund, regional cooperation and introducing agriculture investment plan for food security.
These were highlighted at a follow-up meeting of the BDF held at the NEC conference room Sunday. Chaired by finance minister AMA Muhith, the meeting was attended by planning minister AK Khandker, PM’s economic affairs adviser Mashiur Rahman, Economic Relations Division secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, DFID country representatives plus co-chair of the Local Consultative Group Chris Austin, World Bank and ADB country directors and ambassadors from different countries.
While briefing the reporters on the outcome of the meeting, the finance minister said the development partners stressed partnerships with NGOs and civil society, which the government also believes in.
Muhith revealed that the donors suggested a roadmap for the civil service reforms, a proposal the government has accepted.
On energy and transport, the finance minister said there was a need for further preparation as the response to attracting investment in the power sector had not been bad following a road show. But there was no road show in the transport sector, he added.
Issues concerning decentralisation of the administration also came up for discussion in the meeting, apart from the problems in implementation capacity. Besides, a plan is also being prepared to involve the local governments more.
Muhith said the development partners also suggested extending regional cooperation not only with India, but also with Nepal, Bhutan and to a large extent with China.
The coal policy was discussed and the meeting was told that the policy was up on the worldwide web, and more discussions would be held.
The finance minister, however, said public financial management of the government was lauded by the development partners as internal resource mobilisation had been improving. But, disbursement still remains a concern apart from implementation, he added.
Muhith said the development partners had suggested that the government should do more to strengthen the ACC and human rights.
‘We have utilised the ACC for various purposes, and initiatives are also underway to strengthen it. Amendment is not there, but it is under our consideration while the freedom of ACC is not the issue that is vogue now,’ he added.
On transit, he said a lot of studies had been conducted. ‘We are still estimating as the works regarding the issue began in January and February. Hopefully, I will be able to tell you something within the next month.’
Speaking at the press conference, the planning minister said the 6th Five-Year plan would be publicised in every way possible to gather public opinion on it.
PM’s adviser Mashiur Rahman said the development partners wanted to help in what the government wants to do rather than force the government to do what they want.
On regional cooperation, Mashiur said the ADB had already provided their assistance to set up a grid line to procure 250MW power from India.
He said the World Bank had promised to provide $6.2 billion to Bangladesh in the next four years, and if additional assistance was needed for regional cooperation, they would also provide that under the same conditions. ‘This is a win-win-win situation,’ he added.
Local Consultative Group co-chair Chris Austin said they had strong focus on the Agreed Action points including the civil service reforms, completion of the financial management, implementation of the climate change resilience fund and country investment plan on food security.
But he viewed that the key thing would the 6th Five-Year Plan. He informed that a joint development framework would be formed with the government.
