SASF 2011 Workshop: Public Private Partnership (PPP) – What Works and What does Not

On 21s of November 2011 a workshop was held in the Lecture Theatre of Pharmacy department of Dhaka University where speakers expressed their concern that, bureaucracy and the lack of confidence are the main challenges for the success of the Public Private Partnership (PPP). According to their observation, to make the idea of PPP successfull political will is must. They were speaking during a workshop titlled “PPP: What Works and What does Not“. The Reality of Aid (RoA) Asia Pacific, The Asia Pacific Reserch Network (APRN), equityBD, Coastal Development Partnership (CPD) and Voice jointly organized the program.

Workshop on Tax Justice. Image courtesy EquityBD

The workshop was moderated by Dr. Sohel Iqbal of EquityBd while Jahangir Hossain Masum delivered the welcome note. M Shamim Siddiqui of The Asia Foundation and Erin Polmares of RoA presented two position papers.

In his presentation Shamim Siddiqui stated that, PPP can play a vital role in implementing devlopment projects effectively, but political will is must to make the PPP succesfull. Intention of maximize the utilization of public fund, strong monitoring mechanism are also needed. He mentioned that, good governnecne in PPP has to be ensured and civil society organizations can take some advocacy inititive to ensure that good governnance. He also emphasized on the good governance and corporate social responsibilitiies of private sector.

In her presentation Erin Polmares stated that, PPP is actually a new face of privatization imposed by the international financial institutions to the developing countries. It is a mean to gain profits of the private sector using public money. But according to her, if public participation in planning, implementation and monitoring process can be ensured, PPP can play positive role in development. (Press Release)

SASF 2011: Events Of 20 November 2011 in Photos

Indigenous Dance

Here is a Slideshow of images taken on 20 November 2011:

SASF 2011: Farmers Parliament

Farmer's Parliament

Incidin and Manusher Jonno Foundation jointly organized on 20th of November 2011 morning a seminar titled “Marginal Farmer friendly Policy Environment: South Asian Experience” including some farmers representatives and aptly called it as “farmer’s parliament “. The event took place in the Senate Bhaban Seminar room of Dhaka University and the chief guest was the honorable agriculture minister of Bangladesh Government Ms. Motia Chowdhury. She said that the farmers know the importance of parliament and that is why they are present to voice their opinion in parliament. She taunted that if the opposition parties were present in the parliament like these farmers then the parliament would be more strong.

Motia Chowdhury On Farmers' Issues

The event was presided by Shahin Anam, the Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation and the special guest was Mahbub Hossain, Executive Director, BRAC. The policy paper was presented by A.K.M. Masud Ali, Executive Director, INCIDIN Bangladesh.  Different senior members of farmer’s organizations and ordinary farmers from all over the country were also present and voiced their opinions.

A proposal on the draft policy of agriculture from different farmer’s organizations was handed over to the minister. Minister Motia Chowdhury said that she will present it in national parliament for discussion and will do necessary change, elaboration and addition in this proposal. (Source: Press Release)

SASF 2011 Workshop: VAT And Pro Poor Development

On 20 November 2011 morning an workshop titled “VAT And Pro Poor Development: Resource Mobilization” was arranged in the Seminar room of Department of Physics at Mukarram Bhaban.

Workshop On VAT And Pro Poor Development

The speakers on this workshop termed VAT as a burden for the poor. They suggested the direct tax as a strong and effective mean of resource mobilization. The workshop was jointly organized by equityBD, Tax Justice Network, Voice, INCIDIN Bangladesh and Rupantar.

The workshop was moderated by Sahid Ullah of Development Synergy Institute, while Syad Aminul Haque of EquityBD presented the key note paper. Among others the workshop was also presented by Matti Kohenen of Tax Justice network, Lidy Napcil of Jubilee South Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development, Shoshanko Bandopadhay of Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (India), Farukh Tarique and Ehetesham rana of Pakistan labour party, Pradip Kumar Roy of Online Knowledge Society, Hasan Mehedi of Humanity Watch, Moqbul Ahamad of COAST Trust and Siourab Barua of Shongshoptok.

In the key note presentation Syad Aminul Haque mentioned that direct tax in revenue mobilization of Bangladesh is 18 % while indirect tax contribution is 82 %, where VAT is a major part. He said that in developing countries even in countries like in India and Srilanka, contribution of direct tax is around 70 %, 33 % and 31 % respectively. He urged that direct tax net should be expanded. At present only around 50 % TIN (tax identification number) holders are regularly paying taxes.

SASF 2011 Seminar: Climate change and urbanization – Perspective Bagladesh

On 20th of November, 2011 Participatory Development Action Program (PDAP) and Shelter for the Poor have organized a seminar at the Social Science department in Dhaka University. The seminar was chaired by Mr. Farid, Director of Urban Development Directorate, Housing and Public works department, Government of Bangladesh while the Deputy Director of Habitat for Humanity in Bangladesh, Mr Mortin Mukul Roy, Director of ADAB Mr. Aminul Islam, Mr. Albeeroonee, Ed of Shelter for the Poor, Ms Maksuda, Grassroots leader of PDP and Ms. Rebeka Sanyat, Executive Director of Coalition for the Poor (CUP) were present as speaker of the seminar.

Seminar on Climate change and urbanization

The program was moderated by Ms. Quazi Baby, Executive Director of PDAP. During her speech she told that, “This is the high time to aware people on disaster, because Bangladesh is in very risk condition for disaster. She also mentioned, this coutry is already experiencing the adverse impacts- hotter summers, irregular monsoon, untimely rainfall, heavy rainfall over short period causing water logging etc. Aside with the changes in weather pattern, Bangladesh is facing increased frequency, and intensity of natural disasters like cyclone and floods. Salinity intrusion along the coast leading to scarcity of potable water and redundancy of prevailing crop practices becoming a common phenomenon; TNA (Technology Need Assessment) should address all the impacts and sufferings that people are facing in different regions.”

Recommendations from the Seminar includes suggestions that the government should a number of measures including development of women education, remove obstacles from ensuring safe and secured shelter and reduce bureaucracies. Regarding legal service, poor people are most vulnerable and do not get the service. Women abuse, land reform, land ownership, social insecurity – in all sector enforcement of law is very much needed.

At the end, The Chairperson of the seminar Engineer Mr. said, to increase women empowerment, to raise awareness, to improve legal service, it is necessary to make women’s hand stronger and powerful. Side by side men should come forward to implement women’s initiative. He also mentioned that we know there is no sufficient toilet in the poor community and due to open drainage, sometimes children fall down into the drain. No proper education facility, no job opportunity and no safe shelter in the poor community. Although Government has taken some initiatives for the poor inhabitants, but due to lack of proper planning, it is not implementing yet. (press release)

SASF 2011: Schedule Of Live Webcast On 20th November 2011

Here is the schedule and links of the webcast of the South Asia Social Forum Extended program being broadcasted from Mokarram Vaban (Science Complex) in the Dhaka University Campus:

Time 10 AM – 01 PM

1) Rupayan:

Jute and Jute Mills: Protesting Neo-Liberal Myths

Live from Lecture Theatre Hall

2) Action Aid Bangladesh:

Challenges Of Responsive Governance

Live from 2nd year class room

3) Action Aid Nepal:

People perspective in water rights Nepal context

Live from 3rd year class room

4) BAPA:

Trans-boundary Rivers and Common ecological Concerns in South Asia

Live from the 4th year class room

Time 02 PM – 05 PM

1) Action Aid Pakistan:

Minority within the Minority

2) Action Aid Bangladesh

Seminar On Democracy

Live from 2nd year class room

3) Alternative Farmers Bank

Alternative Farmers Bank: a self help model

SASF 2011: Seminar On ‘Debt Situation In Bangladesh’

Seminar on Debt Situation In Bangladesh organized by SUPRO. Image by SUPRO.

“The independence of the government in policy making decisions is hampered if foreign loans are taken”

That was the message disseminated by the panelists of a seminar on ‘Debt Situation In Bangladesh’ on November 19, 2011 arranged by SUPRO (Campaign For Good Governance). This was a scheduled event of the ongoing South Asia Social Forum 2011 which took place in the Central Gallery (2nd Floor), Department of Botany (Curzon Hall Area) of Dhaka University.

In this seminar discussants showed that Debt with condition is impeding common and poor people’s access to essential public services. Matti Kohenen of the Tax Justice Network suggested Bangladeshis to carry on development work with SME loans to get better leverage on interests. Associate Professor Riyad Chowdhury of NAEM said that the government should have a policy for foreign loans and grants. The benefits and success of the loans depend on who is receiving the loan and for what.

Seminar at Central Gallery, Dept of Botany. Image courtesy Supro.

Dr. Atia waris, an academician and researcher from Kenya University said that in countries like Bangladesh if the corporate taxes are collected properly, the national budget expenditures can be met without foreign debt. She said that foreign debts are usually utilized in unproductive sectors like secondary share market or real estates and is subject to corruption. So foreign debt induces piling of more debt through accumulation of interest.

The event was moderated by Mohiuddin Ahmed. [Source: press release]