Govt to seek extended support from donors tomorrow

---

FHM Humayan Kabir
The government will sit with major donors tomorrow (Thursday) to seek extended support for implementing its development programmes, officials said Tuesday.
Finance ministry officials said top policymakers of the government will brief the representatives of the donors on the revision of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) at the finance ministry.
The second PRSP is being amended incorporating the ruling party's election manifesto and steps to lessen the impact of the global economic recession on the Bangladesh's economy.
Led by Chris Austin of UK's Department for International Development (DFID), the local consultative group (LCG) will participate at the meeting where some senior ministers and advisers will attend.
Finance minister AMA Muhith, planning minister AK Khandaker, economic adviser Mashiur Rahman, Board of Investment executive chairman will take part at the donor-government gathering.
World Bank, Asian Development Bank, British donor DFID, largest bilateral donor Japan, Islamic Development Bank, European Commission, USAID and some other development partners, operating in Bangladesh, will present.
The finance ministry official said since the government has been amending the three-year second PRSP, to be implemented by FY2011, it will brief the donors about its poverty reduction programmes and will seek support to make them a success.
The last caretaker administration adopted the three-year PRSP -- the government's main strategy document for development -- in October last year aimed at boosting economic growth to 7.2 per cent by FY2011.