Dhaka 21st December 2008. Today in a press conference at National Press Club, Dhaka , Equity and Justice Working Group (equitybd) has concluded its three month long campaign on sensitizing political and CSOs opinion against the involvement of World Bank in the management of Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) proposed for climate change adaptation in Bangladesh . Following the UK-Bangladesh climate change conference held in London in September, 2008 EquityBD and 30 other national organizations launched this campaign as Bangladesh Finance Adviser and also UK government proposed the World Bank to manage the fund. The campaign progaramme includes sending post cards from the grassroots level to the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh and UK Minister, organizing seminars in district and national level to sensitize CSOs and political opinion against WB involvement in the management of climate fund. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, convener EquityBD, moderated the press conference while Md. Shamsuddoha presented the background paper and campaign outcomes. In this press conference the organizers claimed that they mobilized a number of international CSO organizations and think tanks in favor of their position who also organized huge campaign activities in Poznan , CoP 14 (conference of the parties) climate conference against WB’s involvement in climate financing.

Speakers apprehend a conspiracy on the finalization of MDTF under World Bank management during the tenure of this interim government. They strongly urged to put the matter, especially the preparation of ‘climate change strategy and action plan’ to the next political government. They clarified the rationale of opposing World Bank, saying that, this approach will allow the World Bank imposing anti poor conditionality to the country. Moreover World Bank is playing a hypocritical and double standard role through financing to the fossil fuel and coal fired generating electricity project which are considered as dirty projects globally. Speakers mentioned that they will continue the campaign to sensitize up-coming members of parliament and Upazila chairmen who will be aware on the issue and oppose World Bank and IFIs in climate financing.

The organizers also pointed out that initially UK government proposed £ 60 million for five year period while Bangladesh government proposed £ 45 million in the financial year 2008-2009. The organizers claimed that GoB contribution to climate adaptation fund is quite unreasonable as Bangladesh is no way responsible for climate change. This is also against the ‘Polluter Pay Exploiter Principle’ of climate financing.

HM Bazlur Rahman of EquityBD and Quazi Farooque explained the campaign procedure while Mostafa Kamal Akanda delivered the welcome address. Among the signatories there are around 50 national organizations, which include UDDIPAN, ADD, CAB, COAST, Prodipon, NCCB, Solidarity, Innovators, Voice etc and around 35 international organizations e.g. Jubilee South – APMDD, Jubilee South Africa, SANSAD and INSAF from India, LDC Watch, SAAPE, Focus on Global South, EEPA-Belgium etc. Besides, a numder of CSO think-tank, political party leaders, media and cultural personalities like Advocate Sultana Kamal ex Adviser to the care taker government, Rashed Khan Menon of Bangladesh Worker’s Party,  Hasanul Haque Inu of JSD, Prominent Cultural Activist Hasan Imam, ex-MP and Awami Legue law maker Dr. Alauddin Ali and KM Jahangir, ex-MP and BNP law maker Shamsuzzaman Dudu, editor of Saptahiki Golam Mortaza also took part in the signature campaign programme. So far, 3000 post card has been sent to both UK and Bangladesh government.

Online Media coverage
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		Climate change fund management better left for elected govt: EquityBD
Power point presentation
		Don't let the World Bank to Manage Climate Fund People around the Globe Don’t Want to See WB’s Involvement in MDTF : We Bangladeshi’s also  Download
CSO think-tank, political party leaders, media and cultural personalities are signing on Post Cards