16th November 2008. Today Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (equitybd) organized a press conference in Dhaka Reporter's Unity, they have to come for this press conference as they have prevented by police on 15th November to hold a human chain in front of national supreme court, protesting against G7 and G20 meeting on global financial crisis and also to observe one year anniversary of cyclone SIDR. They censured President Bush's initiative for that meeting happening in Washington, termed this as a ploy to retain the power of World Bank and IMF as it is, in fact those two and other international financial institutions (IFI) are primarily responsible for this present global financial crisis. They also mentioned that this is also a initiative to by pass UN effort for reform in global financial architecture, with a committee headed by Joseph Stiglitz. They demand that any reform in this regard must with the participation of all UN members especially of the LDC's and civil society, they mentioned that either those institutional decision making should be framed with the principle of one country one vote instead of one dollar one vote, or those institutions should be brought under UN control. Speakers in the press conference claimed that the present financial crisis of the recent days is the result of unlimited market freedom and greed for profit which has been instigated by those IFI’s. There is also need of a democratic reform in UN system too..

In relation to the one year anniversary of SIDR cyclone, they mentioned it is the donors, IFI's, UN organizations and the government assessed the total damages which is $ 1.7 billions, but so far Bangladesh received only $ 350 millions. Speakers mentioned the double standard of donors especially the G7 countries, they must compensate the SIDR damages first. They demanded white paper from government,NGO's, INGO's and UN organizations on use of aid money to show respect for accountability and transparency in local level. They also mentioned that cyclone SIDR like climate crisis will be continued to be happened if there are no paradigm shift in dominant economic approach. They urged government and politicians to take position in line with UN and reconsideration of economic planning in view of sovereignty. A bengali position paper has been read out by Md. Shamsuddoha and questions and answers has responded by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, AHM Bazlur Rahman, Mostafa Kamal Akanda and Sahadat Islam Chowdhury.

		Unlimited market freedom blamed for climate crisis
		Publication of white paper on aid for Sidr victims demanded
		Equitybd censures G20 nations
		Market freedom responsible for climate crisis

Please download the Position Paper ( Bangla )