Civil society urged for transparency and shun luxury in foreign humanitarian and development assistance

BDCSO Process a forum of around 700 NGO (Non-Government Organization) and CSO (Civil Society Organization) from country wide have placed their declaration which was adopted in their virtual annual conference held on October.

Their declaration contain 22 demands, where they have urged for transparency on all international humanitarian and development assistances.

They have also urged international agencies to shun luxury in this regard.

Leaders are also urged all international agencies to limit its role in monitoring and technical assistance only and handover the project implementation to local actors.

The declaration published both in Bangla and English language are available in the BDCSO Process website.

The virtual press conference was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of COAST the national coordinator of the BDCSO Process.

Mr Mustafa Kamal Akhanda has given welcome speech. Divisional leaders, Ms. Nasrin Parveen from Pabna, Mr.Khandaker Farooque Ahmed from Moymonsingh, Mr. Akbar Hossion from Rangpur, Mr. Arif Hossion from Chottogram, Mr. Shuvankar Chokrobarty, Ms Rahima Sultana Kazal and Mr. Anwar Zahid from Barisal, Mr. Sheak Asad from Khulna, Ms Sayeda Yesmin from Kurigram, Ms Masuda Faruque Ratna from Dhaka, Ms Tofazzel Sohel from Sylhet, Mr. Lalit C Chkama from Rangmati and Ms Sabrina Akter from Lakshmipur has described different demands of the declaration and express solidarity.

Mr Akbar from Rangpur said that in the virtual conference of 6,8 and 10 October, there were around 70 speakers and each day around 350 activists have had participated.

The conference was inaugurated by Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman.

From international level Mr Ignacio Pakcer from ICVA, Dr Hany All Banna from WHAF and Mr Roberto Bissio from Social Watch have spoken.

And from national level Ms Saheen Anam and Ms Shireen Haque have also spoken along with network leaders from ADAB, FNB, CDF and SUPRO. Country Directors of Oxfam, The Asia Foundation, Norwegian Refugee Council and Multiser International have had also spoken in the conference.

Mr. Arifur Rahman from Chottogram said that all international agencies must use Bangla language in the country.

He also urged agencies to ensure free from conflict of interest and full transparency of their funding process.

Mr. Shuvankar Chakraborty from Barisal urged the government to adopt localization policy and local accountability of international aid like Nepal, Indonesia, Nigeria and Uganda.

Mr. Asad from Khulna said that there should be technology and knowledge transfer to locals and expatriate appointment should not be supply driven.

He also urged international agencies to keep their management cost should be limited in single digit.

Ms. Sayed Yesmin from Rangpur said that donor agencies should reconsider the due diligence and to give funding local NGO/CSOs without any intermediaries.

Ms. Ratna from Dhaka urged international agencies to adhere aid transparency principles, she also urged them to examine what is luxury and necessity in their expenditure culture.

Mr Tofazzal from Sylhet urged UN agencies to reinforce local civil societies rather than replacing them, UN agencies should give much more emphasize on promoting human rights rather than fund raising and project implementation.