Dhaka, Aug 3 (UNB)- Bangladesh NGO-CSO Coordination Process (BD CSO Coordination) in cooperation with COAST Trust organized a press conference at the National Press Club titled “There is no alternative to localization of development and humanitarian aid: Greater unity of CSO NGOs are needed”.
The press conference was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of COAST and BD CSO Coordination secretariat while other speakers were Rafiqul Islam of FNB (Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh), Mr Rafiqul Islam of ADAB (Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh) and DUS (Dwip Unnayan Sangstha), Nayeem Gowhar Wahra of Disaster Forum, Masuda Faruque Ratna, Convener of Dhaka division of BD CSO Coordination and GBSS, and Badrul Alam of Bangladesh Krishok Federation. Barkat Ullah Maruf of BD CSO Coordination secretariat read out the position paper, while Mostafa Kamal Akanda of COAST gave the welcome speech.
Barkat Ullah Maruf described the background of the two year- process mobilizing CSOs and NGOs across the country and its final culmination through a national convention on 6th July in Dhaka participated by 700 NGO leaders from across the country and 20 international guests. He spoke about development effectiveness and localization, which are the base of international agreements like Grand Bargain and Charter for Change signed by all UN agencies and almost all INGOs, though that is being hardly implemented by them.
Importance and leading role of local NGOs CSOs have been accepted on those agreements, he added. During the conference CSO NGO’s charter of accountability and charter of expectations have been adopted, after being prepared through a bottom up process.
Ms. Masuda Faruque Ratna explained the Self-Accountability Charter of the NGOs with its 8 points. The Accountability Charter is titled “We are accountable to our values and to the affected population”.
Nayeem Wahra introduced the Charter of Expectations titled “Dignity in our space, Inclusiveness and complementarity.” The expectations from the government, donors, UN agencies and INGOs include use of Bangla among all UN agencies and INGOs having interventions in Bangladesh, a complaint response mechanism, official recognition of NGO-CSO work, technical assistance for the leadership of local NGOs, establishing capacity convergence and investment for accountability and transparency.
Rafiqul Islam of FNB said it is a pity that UN agencies and INGOs are leading the Rohingya response keeping Bangladeshi NGOs and CSOs aside who have proven track record of disaster management.
Rafiqul also said that Bangladeshi local NGOs and CSOs who also participated in Liberation War have sufficient capacity to lead any disaster and development initiatives, but some UN agencies and INGOs are ignoring it.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury urged media to spread the charters to promote critical mass on the issues and supporting NGOs CSOs to grow as sustainable organizations with localization instead of corporatization.
Dhaka, Aug 3 (UNB)- Cumilla Zone of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) held a business development conference at Magic Paradise Park of Kotbari in Cumilla on Saturday.
Md Mahbub ul Alam, Managing Director and CEO of the Bank addressed the program as chief guest. Muhammad Qaisar Ali, Additional Managing Director and Md Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Managing Director addressed the programme as special guests.
Md Mosharraf Hossain, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Cumilla Zone presided over the meeting. Senior Executives, Heads of Branches and employees of all Branches under Cumilla Zone attended the conference.
Dhaka, Aug 3 (UNB)- United Commercial Bank Limited (UCB) has signed an agreement with a2i (Access to Information) project of Prime Minister’s Office in the city.
Arif Quadri, Additional Managing Director of UCB and Dr Md Abdul Mannan (PAA), Joint Secretary and Project Director of a2i project signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides on Thursday.
ATM Tahmiduzzaman, Senior Executive Vice President and Company Secretary of UCB, Md Khirkil Nowaz, Executive Vice President and Head of Agent Banking of UCB; Mr Md Tohurul Hasan, Program Manager-Digital Financial Service, a2i; Muhammad Shahadat Hossain, National Consultant- Project Implementation, Digital Financial Service, a2i and Nahida Murshed, Na tional Consultant-Partner Management, a2i along with other senior officials of both the organizations were present at the signing ceremony.
Under this agreement, UCB will provide financial services to the unprivileged people in the rural areas through Union & City Digital Centres.
Dhaka, Aug 1 (UNB) - BRAC, the world-leading NGO of Bangladesh, has very recently returned the fund worth USD 64,115 that they have received from Foundation for Smoke-Free World (FSFW), an organization established and supported by Philip Morris International (PMI).
This is in fact a praiseworthy decision of returning the fund to FSFW knowing that it is, in essence, an offshoot of tobacco industry, Philip Morris International (PMI).
The moral stand taken by BRAC in this regard will go a long way in building a tobacco-free country as propounded by the government of Bangladesh taking apart from being a partner of tobacco industries and de-normalizing them, as FSFW is serving the cause and purposes of Philip Morris International (PMI).
With the decision to part ways with FSFW, BRAC has once again strengthened its trustworthiness and established a glorious example that is to be followed in the days to come. PROGGA, an anti-tobacco organization, hopes this experience will persuade BRAC to adopt a policy of no-collaboration with the tobacco industry to prevent a recurrence of such a situation in future.
PROGGA urged the other recipient of the Foundation’s fund in Bangladesh to follow the same footstep BRAC has pioneered and return the money. The Foundation for Smoke-Free World (FSFW) boosts its own reputation by partnering with another high profile organization, which works among the poor in Bangladesh.
According to record $92,620 is for research on The “harm reduction amongst slum dwellers”. It is most unfortunate that this Philip Morris funded Foundation is giving money for research among the poor so that Philip Morris can push its new products in Bangladesh. Slum-dwellers are struggling to put food on the table.
“Money spent on tobacco is money that is taken away from food and other more important basic necessities. We hope this recipient will also reject this harmful partnership with the Foundation and its funder, Philip Morris International”.
Anti-tobacco activists have already played an exemplary role in pointing out the sinister activities of FSFW in Bangladesh. They have already sent official letters to National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) of Health Services Division urging for issuing necessary directives to government and non-government organizations not to take any grant or fund or not to get involved with this Foundation in any way.
Dhaka, Aug 1 (UNB)- Online ticket purchase platform, bdtickets.com, has been offering 5 percent cash-back (Up to 50 taka) on all the tickets purchased by bKash payment.
The cash-back offer can be availed for purchasing bus, launch and air tickets from bdtickets.com. The offer will be valid till the 15th of August 2019.
Customers can avail the cash-back offer by visiting the bdtickets.com website. After making the payment the customer will receive their cash-back amount instantly into their bKash account.
bdtickets.com would also accept payment made through debit card, credit card or other mobile financial services.
Customers can call bdtickets.com’s call center (16460) for more detail.