We will boost democracy, Dhaka tells foreign donors

DHAKA - Bangladesh has assured international donors that it will further improve the working of its parliament and boost democracy to facilitate an inclusive and faster pace of development.

The Anti-Corruption Commission and human rights bodies would also be strengthened, the Bangladesh Development Forum (BDF) 2010, a consortium of development partners, was told during two-day consultations.

Bangladesh, which is one of the most densely populated and is high on the global corruption chart, is rated as a least developed country (LDC).

The government will further strengthen the standing committees of the parliament and ensure good governance in the country, Finance Minister A.M.A. Muhith told the forum.

“We have agreed that the three basic democratic institutions must be strengthened further. But they also must be transparent and accountable,” Muhith said.

Donors expressed their concerns over stalling pace of democracy’s consolidation, and UN Resident Coordinator Renata Dessallien said democracy was being hampered by excessive competition between the two major political parties, The Daily Star newspaper said.

The government projected that it requires billions of dollars for implementing development programmes in various sectors.

Muhith said the development partners will continue their current assistance to Bangladesh, and hoped that the assistance will increase in future.

For quick availability of donor assistance and proper use of the money, a joint cooperation strategy is being worked out, which will be finalised by June, he added.

The finance minister said $9.5 billion will be required for generating 7,000 megawatt of power by 2013, and the donors assured the government that they will provide more assistance for the purpose.

Investments from public and private sectors will also be sought to meet the fund requirements of the power sector, he added.