BDF meet in city on Feb 15-16
Saturday, 6 February 2010
The Bangladesh Development Forum (BDF) will be in sessions in the city on February 15-16 with government officials and development partners discussing the country's economic condition, development vision and strategies as well as how to sustain development gains, reports UNB.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the two-day event at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.
Talking to the news agency Friday, Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman said there would be discussions at the Forum with development partners from different countries and agencies on government policies.
"Discussions will be held on the present economic situation of the country including its monetary and fiscal policy," he added.
The adviser said that Bangladesh being one of the most vulnerable countries, the climate change issue would also be discussed in the Forum considering the global context.
Terming the BDF meeting an ongoing dialogue, he said that the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-II (PRSP-II) will also be highlighted in the meeting where the government's theme is 'Steps towards change'.
"Discussions on the strategy paper especially about its implementation process and the relevant government policies will also be held."
Meanwhile, former finance adviser to the caretaker government Dr Mirza Azizul Islam said that the major development issues should be highlighted in the BDF meeting. "As no aid commitment is made in the BDF meeting, there should be policy discussions on sector-based priorities."
He identified some of the major development issues that need to be addressed with priority. These are energy and power, climate change, food security, and infrastructures like port, roads and railways.
When contacted, former governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said the key focus should be given on the implementation of foreign aid. "Lots of aid commitments are in the pipeline from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) but the problem is implementation."
He said that the bureaucratic hassles made the implementation process are lengthy. "From the Planning Commission to other functionaries of the government, it takes too much time."
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the two-day event at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.
Talking to the news agency Friday, Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman said there would be discussions at the Forum with development partners from different countries and agencies on government policies.
"Discussions will be held on the present economic situation of the country including its monetary and fiscal policy," he added.
The adviser said that Bangladesh being one of the most vulnerable countries, the climate change issue would also be discussed in the Forum considering the global context.
Terming the BDF meeting an ongoing dialogue, he said that the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-II (PRSP-II) will also be highlighted in the meeting where the government's theme is 'Steps towards change'.
"Discussions on the strategy paper especially about its implementation process and the relevant government policies will also be held."
Meanwhile, former finance adviser to the caretaker government Dr Mirza Azizul Islam said that the major development issues should be highlighted in the BDF meeting. "As no aid commitment is made in the BDF meeting, there should be policy discussions on sector-based priorities."
He identified some of the major development issues that need to be addressed with priority. These are energy and power, climate change, food security, and infrastructures like port, roads and railways.
When contacted, former governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said the key focus should be given on the implementation of foreign aid. "Lots of aid commitments are in the pipeline from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) but the problem is implementation."
He said that the bureaucratic hassles made the implementation process are lengthy. "From the Planning Commission to other functionaries of the government, it takes too much time."