Globally IMF in Crisis : Need Transparency and Reconsideration of All  Relation with IMF in Bangladesh

Dhaka 10th September 2007 Equity and Justice Working Group (EJWG) has organized a press conference in National Press Club, Dhaka, demanded reconsideration of PSI agreement with IMF mission at present who is visiting Bangladesh. They also demanded transparency of all the agreement with IFIs (international financial institutions) in here. They said, it is due to the credibility and relevance crisis of the IMF globally, to save herself IMF looking for PSI (policy support instrument) agreement with government of Bangladesh, they are desperetly looking for this opportunity in the absence of parliament. On behalf of the group Rezaul Karim Chowdhury read out a written statement and Aminur Rasul, AHM Bazlur Rahman, Sahadat Islam Mintu and Mostafa Kamal Akanda answered different questions of the participants. Please find the press release, media coverage and Bangla keynote written statement ( position Paper ).

IMF terms to be made public before any deal

Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam said the government will scrutinise conditions and make it public before finalising any new deal with International Monetary Fund (IMF). "If the IMF proposes any new package deal to Bangladesh, the government will make the final decision after examining conditions behind the deal," said Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam after his final meeting with visiting IMF mission yesterday. ( The Daily Star: September 13, 2007)

Govt’s authority to talk, ink policy deal with IMF challenged in HC

The interim government’s authority to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund for signing a Policy Support Instrument deal and handing over the management of Newmooring container port in Chittagong to the private sector has been challenged in the High Court . ( ( New Age: September 17, 2007)

In a recent meeting a campaign working group named Equity and Justice Group ( EJWG) has been formed. The group has decided to have ground work until the end of 2007 to form a broader network covering 64 districts and to lay  draft network rules and procedures. All the rules and procedures, including vision, mission, and a three years plan will be discussed and finalized with participation of representatives from 64 districts and a network formally launch in a convention during December. The group underscored a need of separate network of activist in Bangladesh especially  to address inequality issues which are being increased. As drafted initially, vision of the group is for a world and Bangladesh with economic equity and justice, a society with democratic and human rights principles. Mission of the group is for facilitating micro macro linkages in mobilization and promoting policy debate for sensitization and influencing to all possible stakeholders. The group has been comprised of seven members, Sahadat Islam of Prodip, AHM Bazlur Rahman of BNNRC, Rafiqul Islam of RUPANTOR,Md. Samsuddoha of PRDI ; Aminur Rasul, Mostafa Kamal Akanda and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of COAST. Unitl the end of the year the group will have campaign on (i) Not to have new agreement with IMF, (ii) Drowning with Development or Debt, (iii) Review on three Years of PRSP . ( iv) The Right to Food : Rural Woman Produce and Provide.

Please visit our website www.equitybd.org both in Bangla and English from 22nd September 2007