Australian aid to Bangladesh increases
Sunday, 24 June 2007
Khan Ferdousour Rahman
BANGLADESH and Australia agreed on June 13, 2007 to further expand bilateral co-operation in promising areas as Canberra decided to increase its annual aid for Dhaka. The broad-based agreement came during official talks between Foreign Affairs Adviser of Bangladesh Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
Australia was the fourth country, the first from the developed world to recognise the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. The mass media of Australia extended strong moral support to the liberation struggle of Bangladesh. She recognised Bangladesh on January 31, 1972 and established a resident mission in Dhaka in the same year. The year 2002 marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Both of them play an active role in forums such as the UN and the Commonwealth, and participate in many multilateral agencies. They share similar values of Westminster-style democracy, and both of them were former British colonies.
Australia seems to value its relationship with Bangladesh because Bangladesh is a moderate Muslim democratic country involved in UN peacekeeping operations in different parts of the world. Bangladesh is also an active member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference(OIC) and South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation(SAARC). Both the countries are harmonised together by their commitment to international peace, security, co-operation, and social justice. They work together closely in international forums with having the similar education, legal and commercial systems. They have common shared commitment to democratic principles, rule of law, good governance and human rights.
Interdependence and economic co-operation are now universal. Australia is one of the ten most competitive economies of the world. The 2005-2006 federal government budget was in surplus by A $ 10.8 billion, with total revenue at A $ 232 and total expenses of A $ 220 billion. The basis of Australia - Bangladesh relations hinges primarily on economic and political pursuits, and mutual interests. The bilateral relationship of the countries is depended on Australian development co-operation programme and joint interest in boosting two-way trades. Though Bangladesh enjoys duty- and quota-free entry to Australia effective from July 01, 2003, but her exporters have yet to take advantage of the benefits of duty-free and quota-free access to the Australian marketplace. Total bilateral trade between the two countries was A $ 259 million in 2005-2006. Bangladesh imports vegetables, milk and cream, fertilisers, oil seeds etc. from Australia and exports clothing and textiles, leather goods and ceramic products to Australia.
Presently numbers of Australian companies such as Wesfarmers Kleenheat Gas and SMEC International Limited are operating in Bangladesh in various sectors such as energy, telecommunications and transport. With a population of 140 million and per capita income of around US $ 480, Bangladesh is likely to provide a modest market for Australia in future. Australia has set up an Austrade centre in Dhaka to facilitate increased participation of their traders in the Bangladesh market and the Bangladeshi traders in the Australian market. One the other hand, Australia has one of the strongest economies in the world, which can provide an attractive and affluent market for Bangladeshi products. Bangladesh the government of has also created trade wings in its mission in Australia.
Bangladesh has been a significant recipient of Australian development assistance since the early 1970s. Australia was involved in the reconstruction efforts of the war-devastated economy. The total contribution to Bangladesh till 2004 stood at more than A $ 699 million. The Australian aid programme to Bangladesh started as humanitarian aid, but today all the assistance is in the form of development aid, including food aid which accounts for more than half of the assistance over the years. Poverty alleviation through sustainable economic and social development growth is the objective of Australia's aid programme in Bangladesh.
The sectoral allocation of Australian aid programme in Bangladesh focuses on food security and nutrition, primary education, human resource development through Australian Development Scholarships programme, HIV/AIDS, micro finance, governance, arsenic mitigation, agriculture, humanitarian and emergencies. As part of partnership with multilateral organisations, Australia works in partnership with WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, UNODC, UNAIDS, IOM and World Bank Group in Bangladesh. Over the years, Bangladesh emerged as the top recipient of Australian aid among the South Asian countries. For 2006-07, the value of Australia's total aid programme to Bangladesh is estimated at A $ 36.3 million, which Australia intends to increase by 33 per cent from 2007-2008, raising the amount to around A$48 million.
Australia provides food aid to Bangladesh to support the poorest people of the country to overcome food insecurity in the form of wheat, flour or micro nutrient biscuits.
The programme is implemented by the government of Bangladesh through Vulnerable Group Development (VGD), Integrated Food Support (ISS) and School Feeding Program (SFP) with management and supervision support from WFP. She is supporting Bangladesh in Second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP II) in partnership with other donors. The PEDP I was implemented jointly by UNICEF and the government of Bangladesh with funding from Australia to improve the rate of participation and quality of primary education.
In the governance field, Australia is working to improve economic governance, combat people trafficking, and capacity building of legal professionals and advancing human rights in Bangladesh. She is contributing to computerise few important public offices of Bangladesh to increase the efficiency and transparency. She is also supporting consultations between human rights NGOs and a regional conference looking at best practices and lessons learnt in relation to national human rights commissions. AusAID is working in partnership with the World Bank to promote policy advocacy for improving service delivery in health, education, water and sanitation and economic growth. AusAID also has a funding mechanism called 'International Seminar Support Scheme (ISSS)' from where Bangladesh can be benefited.
Australia is helping Bangladesh to combat HIV/AIDS through research activities in partnership with the ICDDRB. She is also supporting BRAC to expand access to financial services including credit for nearly 40,000 households; most of them are women, in Northwest districts of Bangladesh. Under this programme, poor women become small-scale entrepreneurs investing in business such as poultry and livestock rearing, rice processing, fish farming and transport services.
Australia is funding the Arsenic Mitigation Programme contributed to the prevention of arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh. With her financial assistance, the World Bank's Water Sanitation Programme is building capacity of local government and service providers. She also funds few local NGOs to monitor, test, train, mobilise and arrange workshops on arsenic. A number of Bangladeshi NGOs works with Australian NGOs in partnership for food security, education, microfinance-focused community development, STD, HIV/AIDS and community health, arsenic mitigation, indigenous women empowerment, disability and capacity building activities.
Australia has provided scholarships for Bangladeshi students for more than 20 years. Bangladeshi students are increasingly turning to Australia to pursue their education interests. Presently more than 6,000 Bangladeshi students are receiving education offered in Australia. In 2006 approximately 2,000 Bangladeshi students were allowed to study there. During 2006, Australia launched the Australian Leadership Awards (ALA). Twenty seven Bangladeshi students were selected for 2007, and application is already asked for 2008 under this new and innovative scholarship scheme.
Under a MOU signed in 2000 in between Australia and Bangladesh Cricket Board, Bangladeshi cricketers are receiving a range of co-operation including young players studying at the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in Adelaide. There are series of tour and match performance between the cricket teams of both the countries. Bangladesh hosted the first full tour by the Australian cricket team in April 2006.
Australian volunteers in Bangladesh also contribute to boosting relations and strengthening mutual understanding between the two countries. In 2006-07, around 50 Australian volunteers supported development in Bangladesh with professional assistance in diverse fields including disability rehabilitation, HIV/AIDS, support to street children and refugees, and English language teachers training.
Bilateral relations between both the countries can be lifted qualitatively through sharing knowledge and skills. Bangladeshi professionals living in Australia always contribute to building a knowledge network between the two countries. Such a process would also help to protect the image of Bangladesh as a modern, globally connected and a responsible member of the international community.
The bilateral commercial and trade interests of both the countries are continuing, although there is considerable scope for greater engagement. Bilateral relations got some momentum by several high level visits, contracts, and political and economic dialogue. The head of the government of Bangladesh visited Australia in 1999 and 2002. Presently more than 10,000 Bangladeshi people are staying in Australia. The two countries are harmonised together by their commitment to various sectors mutually agreed upon, which is expected to be strengthened further in future.
The writer is a Freelancer and can be reached at E-mail: ferdous3820@yahoo.co.uk
BANGLADESH and Australia agreed on June 13, 2007 to further expand bilateral co-operation in promising areas as Canberra decided to increase its annual aid for Dhaka. The broad-based agreement came during official talks between Foreign Affairs Adviser of Bangladesh Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
Australia was the fourth country, the first from the developed world to recognise the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. The mass media of Australia extended strong moral support to the liberation struggle of Bangladesh. She recognised Bangladesh on January 31, 1972 and established a resident mission in Dhaka in the same year. The year 2002 marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Both of them play an active role in forums such as the UN and the Commonwealth, and participate in many multilateral agencies. They share similar values of Westminster-style democracy, and both of them were former British colonies.
Australia seems to value its relationship with Bangladesh because Bangladesh is a moderate Muslim democratic country involved in UN peacekeeping operations in different parts of the world. Bangladesh is also an active member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference(OIC) and South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation(SAARC). Both the countries are harmonised together by their commitment to international peace, security, co-operation, and social justice. They work together closely in international forums with having the similar education, legal and commercial systems. They have common shared commitment to democratic principles, rule of law, good governance and human rights.
Interdependence and economic co-operation are now universal. Australia is one of the ten most competitive economies of the world. The 2005-2006 federal government budget was in surplus by A $ 10.8 billion, with total revenue at A $ 232 and total expenses of A $ 220 billion. The basis of Australia - Bangladesh relations hinges primarily on economic and political pursuits, and mutual interests. The bilateral relationship of the countries is depended on Australian development co-operation programme and joint interest in boosting two-way trades. Though Bangladesh enjoys duty- and quota-free entry to Australia effective from July 01, 2003, but her exporters have yet to take advantage of the benefits of duty-free and quota-free access to the Australian marketplace. Total bilateral trade between the two countries was A $ 259 million in 2005-2006. Bangladesh imports vegetables, milk and cream, fertilisers, oil seeds etc. from Australia and exports clothing and textiles, leather goods and ceramic products to Australia.
Presently numbers of Australian companies such as Wesfarmers Kleenheat Gas and SMEC International Limited are operating in Bangladesh in various sectors such as energy, telecommunications and transport. With a population of 140 million and per capita income of around US $ 480, Bangladesh is likely to provide a modest market for Australia in future. Australia has set up an Austrade centre in Dhaka to facilitate increased participation of their traders in the Bangladesh market and the Bangladeshi traders in the Australian market. One the other hand, Australia has one of the strongest economies in the world, which can provide an attractive and affluent market for Bangladeshi products. Bangladesh the government of has also created trade wings in its mission in Australia.
Bangladesh has been a significant recipient of Australian development assistance since the early 1970s. Australia was involved in the reconstruction efforts of the war-devastated economy. The total contribution to Bangladesh till 2004 stood at more than A $ 699 million. The Australian aid programme to Bangladesh started as humanitarian aid, but today all the assistance is in the form of development aid, including food aid which accounts for more than half of the assistance over the years. Poverty alleviation through sustainable economic and social development growth is the objective of Australia's aid programme in Bangladesh.
The sectoral allocation of Australian aid programme in Bangladesh focuses on food security and nutrition, primary education, human resource development through Australian Development Scholarships programme, HIV/AIDS, micro finance, governance, arsenic mitigation, agriculture, humanitarian and emergencies. As part of partnership with multilateral organisations, Australia works in partnership with WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, UNODC, UNAIDS, IOM and World Bank Group in Bangladesh. Over the years, Bangladesh emerged as the top recipient of Australian aid among the South Asian countries. For 2006-07, the value of Australia's total aid programme to Bangladesh is estimated at A $ 36.3 million, which Australia intends to increase by 33 per cent from 2007-2008, raising the amount to around A$48 million.
Australia provides food aid to Bangladesh to support the poorest people of the country to overcome food insecurity in the form of wheat, flour or micro nutrient biscuits.
The programme is implemented by the government of Bangladesh through Vulnerable Group Development (VGD), Integrated Food Support (ISS) and School Feeding Program (SFP) with management and supervision support from WFP. She is supporting Bangladesh in Second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP II) in partnership with other donors. The PEDP I was implemented jointly by UNICEF and the government of Bangladesh with funding from Australia to improve the rate of participation and quality of primary education.
In the governance field, Australia is working to improve economic governance, combat people trafficking, and capacity building of legal professionals and advancing human rights in Bangladesh. She is contributing to computerise few important public offices of Bangladesh to increase the efficiency and transparency. She is also supporting consultations between human rights NGOs and a regional conference looking at best practices and lessons learnt in relation to national human rights commissions. AusAID is working in partnership with the World Bank to promote policy advocacy for improving service delivery in health, education, water and sanitation and economic growth. AusAID also has a funding mechanism called 'International Seminar Support Scheme (ISSS)' from where Bangladesh can be benefited.
Australia is helping Bangladesh to combat HIV/AIDS through research activities in partnership with the ICDDRB. She is also supporting BRAC to expand access to financial services including credit for nearly 40,000 households; most of them are women, in Northwest districts of Bangladesh. Under this programme, poor women become small-scale entrepreneurs investing in business such as poultry and livestock rearing, rice processing, fish farming and transport services.
Australia is funding the Arsenic Mitigation Programme contributed to the prevention of arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh. With her financial assistance, the World Bank's Water Sanitation Programme is building capacity of local government and service providers. She also funds few local NGOs to monitor, test, train, mobilise and arrange workshops on arsenic. A number of Bangladeshi NGOs works with Australian NGOs in partnership for food security, education, microfinance-focused community development, STD, HIV/AIDS and community health, arsenic mitigation, indigenous women empowerment, disability and capacity building activities.
Australia has provided scholarships for Bangladeshi students for more than 20 years. Bangladeshi students are increasingly turning to Australia to pursue their education interests. Presently more than 6,000 Bangladeshi students are receiving education offered in Australia. In 2006 approximately 2,000 Bangladeshi students were allowed to study there. During 2006, Australia launched the Australian Leadership Awards (ALA). Twenty seven Bangladeshi students were selected for 2007, and application is already asked for 2008 under this new and innovative scholarship scheme.
Under a MOU signed in 2000 in between Australia and Bangladesh Cricket Board, Bangladeshi cricketers are receiving a range of co-operation including young players studying at the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in Adelaide. There are series of tour and match performance between the cricket teams of both the countries. Bangladesh hosted the first full tour by the Australian cricket team in April 2006.
Australian volunteers in Bangladesh also contribute to boosting relations and strengthening mutual understanding between the two countries. In 2006-07, around 50 Australian volunteers supported development in Bangladesh with professional assistance in diverse fields including disability rehabilitation, HIV/AIDS, support to street children and refugees, and English language teachers training.
Bilateral relations between both the countries can be lifted qualitatively through sharing knowledge and skills. Bangladeshi professionals living in Australia always contribute to building a knowledge network between the two countries. Such a process would also help to protect the image of Bangladesh as a modern, globally connected and a responsible member of the international community.
The bilateral commercial and trade interests of both the countries are continuing, although there is considerable scope for greater engagement. Bilateral relations got some momentum by several high level visits, contracts, and political and economic dialogue. The head of the government of Bangladesh visited Australia in 1999 and 2002. Presently more than 10,000 Bangladeshi people are staying in Australia. The two countries are harmonised together by their commitment to various sectors mutually agreed upon, which is expected to be strengthened further in future.
The writer is a Freelancer and can be reached at E-mail: ferdous3820@yahoo.co.uk