Commitments in Paris declaration yet to be met, discussion told

DHAKA, Bangladesh, July 10 (BSS) - Eminent economists today said the commitments made in the Paris declaration are yet to befulfilled.

Rather, the donors are pressurising the aid recipient nations to meet their conditions for getting aid, said President of the Bangladesh Economic Association Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed while moderating a discussion at Jatiya Press Club in thecity.

"This is a sheer violation of the Paris declaration," he said urging the donors to honour the commitments they made in thedeclaration.

The discussion on "Road to Accra - Paris Declaration and Aid Effectiveness," was organised for stakeholders by the Voices forInteractive Choice and Empowerment (VICE), a NGO.

Economist Dr Atiur Rahman, Charge d'Affaires of Danish Embassy Jan Mollar Hansen, donor focal point for the Paris Evaluation Bo Sunderstrom and government officials attended thediscussion.

A power point show on the Paris declaration was presented atthe beginning of the discussion.

Dr QK Ahmed said the annual foreign aid of less than 1.50 percent of national incomes is being given to Bangladesh by World Bank, International Monitory Fund and other counties taggingunjust pressures on the country.

He said the annual remittance of Bangladesh is four times bigger than the amount of aid provided by them. The nation should now think of whether and how the country gets rid of such aid,which is actually loan, he added.

On the other hand, the country should have a system of participatory democracy and the government should know how to keep high the nation's self respect for achieving self-reliant,he added.

The Danish diplomat while accepting some of the views expressed at the discussion said it's up to any nation that howthey will run themselves.

There are many ways for providing aid by the donors, butthey have the same objectives, he added.