Govt seeks $150m ADB support for good governance
Monday, 10 September 2007
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) sought US$ 150 million in Asian Development Bank (ADB) support for good governance in the country, in line with a UN convention, reports UNB/bdnews24.com.
Foreign Adviser (FA) Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury made the request during a meeting with ADB Country Director Hua Du at his office in the city Sunday.
While speaking to the media following the meeting, the FA said, "We are looking to a US$ 150 million ADB support for good governance which includes the implementation of the UN Convention on anti-corruption that we have signed."
The MoFA will coordinate an inter-ministerial committee to find out the gaps that need to be addressed in terms of domestic measures so that the government is able to fulfill the conditions of the Convention, he said.
The Country Director of the funding agency said the ADB will continue to 'vigorously support' the caretaker government's activities in this respect.
The ADB boss said the anti-corruption drive should in no way destabilise economic stability.
"We should also try to mitigate any repercussion from any big corruption drive. We have to make sure that the (macro-economic) stability is maintained and the economy is not hurt by any of the short-term measures," Hua Du told reporters.
The ADB director said success in fighting corruption could not be achieved overnight or over a few months or even a few years. She said the fight should be considered as a long-term objective.
Iftekhar told reporters that the ADB was providing a soft loan of $150 million in technical assistance to fight corruption.
"An inter-ministerial committee, headed by the foreign secretary, has been formed to find out the gap between the country's anti-corruption measures and the UN convention against corruption since Bangladesh is a signatory to the UN convention," Iftekhar said.
He said the MoFA will develop an action plan in line with the UN convention for fighting corruption.
An inter-ministerial meeting within six months would find out the gaps, said the FA.
"We have discussed how the ADB's assistance can be used to find out the gaps," Iftekhar said.
Foreign Adviser (FA) Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury made the request during a meeting with ADB Country Director Hua Du at his office in the city Sunday.
While speaking to the media following the meeting, the FA said, "We are looking to a US$ 150 million ADB support for good governance which includes the implementation of the UN Convention on anti-corruption that we have signed."
The MoFA will coordinate an inter-ministerial committee to find out the gaps that need to be addressed in terms of domestic measures so that the government is able to fulfill the conditions of the Convention, he said.
The Country Director of the funding agency said the ADB will continue to 'vigorously support' the caretaker government's activities in this respect.
The ADB boss said the anti-corruption drive should in no way destabilise economic stability.
"We should also try to mitigate any repercussion from any big corruption drive. We have to make sure that the (macro-economic) stability is maintained and the economy is not hurt by any of the short-term measures," Hua Du told reporters.
The ADB director said success in fighting corruption could not be achieved overnight or over a few months or even a few years. She said the fight should be considered as a long-term objective.
Iftekhar told reporters that the ADB was providing a soft loan of $150 million in technical assistance to fight corruption.
"An inter-ministerial committee, headed by the foreign secretary, has been formed to find out the gap between the country's anti-corruption measures and the UN convention against corruption since Bangladesh is a signatory to the UN convention," Iftekhar said.
He said the MoFA will develop an action plan in line with the UN convention for fighting corruption.
An inter-ministerial meeting within six months would find out the gaps, said the FA.
"We have discussed how the ADB's assistance can be used to find out the gaps," Iftekhar said.