Dhaka 12 June 2009:  Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD) protested government decision of accepting World Bank authoritative domination on the management of Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) to be formed by Bangladesh to cope with the impacts of climate change.

MDTF Management: an illicit intervention of the WB
The 'Draft Concept Note' on the management and operationalmodalities of the MDTF proposed WB to administer, manage, supervise and monitor MDTF funded projects. The Bank is given the authority to co-chair the MDTF management committee and to look after day-to-day operation of the Fund. As host of the MDTF, the WB will charge a fee of USD 8 million to recover its all direct and indirect costs. Aside with the role of fund management, the WB will execute part of the MDTF, which includes review and revise of government policies, development planning etc; such a dual role will create unlawful space for the Bank to influence project design, approval and on country’s development policies. It is ironic that being the administrator of MDTF, how the WB could getinvolve in the implementation of that fund- the organizers questioned.

Call from the Human Chain: say no to the World Bank
Around hundreds of people gathered in front of the National Press Club,Dhaka, Bnagladesh and formed human chain while they chanted slogans asking government to reconsider its decision and stop WB involvement over the MDTF. They also condemned Bank’s role of promoting flawed development paradigm in the poor and developing countries. From this human chain a written statement on the management modalities of the MDTF was distributed to the common mass.





Country’s sovereign role and democratic ownership on MDTF: a people’s demand

Speakers from the human chain warned that the Bank’s involvement with the management of MDTF will allow the Bank to legitimize its illegitimate authority and to impose neo-liberal conditionality to other climate risk countries. Such conditionality will create more pauperization as it is related to blanket privatization and liberalization. They also asked the Government to manage this fund through an “Independent Board” with the representation of civil society, climate change victims etc along with government representatives.Please download the position paper, media coverage and photos