Terming achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as 'not a very difficult task' for Bangladesh, parliament members in the city Thursday stressed making constituency-based development plans in participation with the elected representatives, GO-NGO and civil society members of the respective areas, reports BSS.
The leadership should go back to the people to prepare development plans instead of imposing anything from the upper level as nature of problems and potentialities of all areas are not same, and it might be the best way to achieve MDGs equitably in all areas of the country, they said.
At national policy consultation on "Achieving Millennium Development Goals: The Role of Parliamentarians," they said regional disparity should be addressed in the development plans taken for achieving the MDGs.
The MDG set eight goals including halve extreme poverty, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and women empowerment, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat deadly diseases including HIV/AIDS, ensure environmental sustainability and develop global partnership for development.
All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on MDGs in collaboration with UN Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and People's Empowerment Trust (PET) arranged the consultation meeting at a city hotel Thursday.
Deputy Speaker Col (retd) Shawkat Ali attended the function as the chief guest while Chief Whip Vice Principal Abdus Shahid was in the chair.
Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruq Khan, noted economist and chairman of PKSP Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud, Prof Serajul Akbar, MP, Shariyar Alam, MP, Junaid Ahmed Palak, MP, former state minister Ehsanul Haque Milon, UNMC envoys Taraman Bibi, Bir Pratik, and noted artiste Farida Banu and Director-Asia of UNMC Minar Pimple took part in the discussion.
While presenting a keynote paper on the theme of the consultation, noted economist Dr Atiur Rahman said Bangladesh has to conceptualise and localise the MDGs like many other countries for development and eradicating poverty.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader, MP and State Minister for Education Motahar Hossain, MP, were present while secretary of APPG Shihir Shil acted as moderator.
The Deputy Speaker said pragmatic development plans might come out from the grassroots level when people would directly be involved in identifying their problems and prospects.
He said the elected representatives must have clear idea about the targets of the MDGs and should be involved in taking plans to achieve the goals. As well, the target people, irrespective of level of education should be made aware about the MDGs.
Commerce Minister Faruq Khan reiterated the present government's firm commitment to balanced and equitable development of all regions of the country and said Awami League's election manifesto has been prepared suiting to the MDGs.
"It is a prime indication of our commitment to MDGs," he said adding that the people have accepted our manifesto and now we want their support to implement the programmes.
Chief Whip Abdus Sahid said the present government would engage the parliamentarians in preparing the MDG related policies in the parliament and monitoring the achievements of the goals of MDGs.
Wahiduddin Mahmud said the role of government side by side with its positive aim is very crucial for development. He said experience of the grassroots level leaders is also very important for taking and analysing the policies relating to development.
Prof Sirajul Abkar, MP, said the government has to take specific targets to achieve other goals of the MDGs as it was taken for fighting HIV/AIDS and improving health indicators. He said the work for achieving MDGs had been delayed due to absence of democracy in the country for the last two years.
Zunaid Ahmed, MP, proposed for introducing a project for giving rickshaw to the rickshaw-pullers under a very soft micro credit system but on condition of adopting family planning and sending their kids to school.
