From Paris Consortium to Padma Bridge

There was a time when 'Paris Consortium' mattered most in the economy of Bangladesh, particularly for implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP). The  ADP was formulated mostly with foreign assistance. There was a particular time of the year when the donor group of Bangladesh known as 'Paris Consortium' used to hold the annual meeting in Paris, and the suited-booted finance minister and government officials from Bangladesh used to attend that meeting with all preparations to impress the donors. The more commitments for help they could get from the donors, the more complacent would be the government, and the finance minister would return home like a winning warrior. In the follow-up press conference upon his return from Paris, the finance minister used to leave no stone unturned to impress the journalists at home how efficient he was in convincing the donors.

The situation has changed. Thanks God, we do not hear of 'Paris Consortium' any more. But that does not stop us from implementing development projects in the country. Even the largest-ever development project of the country 'The Padma Bridge' is being implemented by our own money.

Nurun Nahar

Eskaton Garden Road, Dhaka