Lack of good governance hindrance to sustainable development, say speakers

Speakers at a programme identified Sunday lack of good governance as main hindrance to ensure sustainable development in the country.
They were speaking at a working session of the national convention on "Towards Poverty Alleviation and Social Development: The Role of MFIs" at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the city.
Ms. Rasheda K. Choudhury, former adviser to a caretaker government and member of the Institute of Microfinance (InM), was the guest of honour at the session on "Sustainable Development and Poverty: Unfolding the Constrains/Gaps" on the concluding day of the two-day national convention.
InM, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) organised the national convention.
"Without good governance, no achievement will be sustainable …there are many instances (in this connection)," Ms. Choudhury said.
"Why the rivers, water reservoirs, schools, hills etc in the country are grabbed? It is a matter of shame for us," she continued.
"The state will have to take the responsibility of ensuring the people's rights. Otherwise, we may dream to achieve the sustainable development, but it will not be materialised," the InM member said.
Citing that Bangladesh's microfinance institutes (MFIs) appeared as model in the world, Ms. Choudhury called upon the representatives of MFIs to work sincerely so that the reputation and image are not tarnished.
Presided over by Prof Dr MA Sattar Mandal, former member of the Planning Commission, the session was addressed, among others, by Golam Mowla, general manager of PKSF, Ms Zahida Fizza Kabir, executive director of the Sajida Foundation, and Dr Syed Abdul Hamid, Associate Professor of the Institute of Health Economics.
A good number of representatives of different MFIs participated in the session. One of them said at the open discussion, "Lack of good governance in the country is the first threat to the achievement of sustainable development."
Some other participants said that there is discrimination against the small MFIs in the policy comparing the big and medium ones, aerating impediments for them (small MFIs) to work for the poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
In order to alleviate poverty, the lead speaker in his presentation laid stress on addressing its multi-dimensions such as poverty in terms of education, health, social security, drug addiction and food adulteration.
Syed Abdul Hamid also cited good governance as one of the preconditions to achieve the sustainable development. "Achievement of sustainable development is not possible without good governance," he added.
The government institutions will have to function properly to play their due roles and also facilitate the MFIs in order to achieve the sustainable development.
Ms Zahida Fizza Kabir said that the youths are not being attracted to the activities of MFIs. She strongly suggested to identify the reasons behind it and think over the matter seriously.
She called for developing strong leadership to achieve the sustainable development in the country.
Meanwhile, speakers at another working session on "Structure of Microfinance Market and Financing of MFIs" said that small MFIs are not getting adequate fund from the banks and PKSF.
Some speakers put forward some recommendations as solutions to remove the fund-constraints of the MFIs.
The recommendations include: launching of an inter-MFIs market to lend and borrow fund among them like the call money market in the banking industry.       

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