Hasina opens BDF-2010,
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressing the
inaugural function of two-day-long Bangladesh Development
Forum at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the
city on Monday.
The donor countries and agencies did not make any specific commitment in their meeting on the issue of development of the country's power and energy sector on the first day Monday. They rather heard of the government about its development strategy and plan for the sector.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the two-day Bangladesh Development Forum 2010 at the Bangbandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the city on Monday
Later addressing a briefing after the first day's meeting, Prime Minister's Adviser on economic affairs Dr. Mashihur Rahman said that the Bangladesh Development Forum (BDF) meeting was not supposed to make any commitment on any specific sector.
"Actually, the pattern of the development partners' meeting has been changed in recent years. Unlike before, they do not make any specific commitment for funding. Nowadays, they like to know about the government's plan and programmes…later they adjust their investment programme with the government's ones on case to case basis."
He informed that no question was raised by the development partners on the corruption issue. "Only they discussed about the goal and strategies of the government's programmes," the PM's adviser said.
This year, the government has laid special focus on power and energy sector development in the BDF meeting targeting huge financial support to implement its programmes.
Prime Minister's Advisor on energy affairs Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, who attended the meeting, said that the development partners had supported the government's all the plans and strategies for the power and energy sector that includes a tariff rationalization programme as well.
The tariff rationalisation means an increase in the prices of electricity. After assuming office, the Awami League government already increased the power tariff in December last.
About the PPP projects, he said, the development partners suggested creating appropriate agencies for monitoring and supervision.
He said the government will create a special fund for power and energy sector beside the support of the donors.
When his attention was drawn to the tariff rationalization issue, Bangladesh chief of UK's DFID said this is a very complex issue. DFID is playing a coordinating role in holding the BDF meeting this year in Bangladesh.
Earlier addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Bangladesh Development Forum 2010 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the climate change is a threat to the country's development and also its food security.
"A threat to our development as well as food security is climate change,"
Finance Minister AMA Muhith presided over the inaugural session. Vice president of the South Asian Region of World Bank Isabel Guerrero, director general of the South Asia Regional Department of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Sultan Hafeez Rahman and deputy director general of the International Cooperation Bureau of Japan Foreign Ministry Kazuo Sunaga made the introductory remarks.
UK's Department for International Development (DFID) and co-chair of the Local Consultative Group (LCG) Chris Austin, and ERD secretary and co-chair of the LCG M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan gave the welcome speeches.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged for quick disbursement of climate funds promised in COP 15 in Copenhagen last December, for adaptation and mitigation, particularly for MVCs, LDCs, and low-lying coastal and small island countries.
She said: "Our development partners should also, considering the gravity and grimness of the impacts of climate change, now ensure fulfilling their ODA targets of 0.7 percent of GNI for developing countries, and 0.2 percent for LDCs as reaffirmed in the Brussels Programme of Action."
The Prime Minister elaborated her government's self-preservation measurers for adaptation of climate change, which included dredging of major rivers, land reclamation, homesteads for the displaced on land raised by silt, crop varieties attuned to climate change, protection of biodiversity, etc.
"We've built 100 cyclone shelters with more on way. We've also approved 134 climate change action plans. To meet the costs, we've established a US$100 million Climate Change Fund; and also a Multi-Donor Trust Fund with US$150 million from friends. We've intensified micro-financing for poverty reduction under Poverty Reduction Strategy Plan," she said.
Describing her government's various development activities in the past, she said: "I also believe that development is meaningless without social safety-nets."
Hasina said presently her government has initiated cash and food transfer programmes, and special programmes for minorities, marginalized, disabled, physically challenged and the underprivileged. "Our new policy also includes providing employment to one member of each poor family."
After the inaugural session, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the Development Fair. The Development Fair, being held as a side event, on the Bangabandhu International Conference Center premises with some 40 stalls showcasing the advances of Bangladesh in various sectors.
The Economic Relations Division (ERD), on behalf of the government, is jointly organizing the Forum in collaboration with the Local Consultative Group-LCG (donors' forum) that includes the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations, DFID, USAID, Canadian Cida and Denmark.
Besides, representatives from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Kuwait Fund, UAE, India and China are invited to the international meet of the Forum, previously known as Paris Consortium.