Members of the civil society on Saturday demanded a national policy to protect the rights of general people while implementing small and mega-scale development projects.
A seminar on this regard titled “Safeguarding Peoples' Rights in Development Projects: Disclosure and Reality” was held at Dhaka's Reporters' Unity's Nasrul Hamid auditorium at 10am, according to a press release.
Giving examples of two mega projects “Sustainable Water Supply Project” and “Dhaka-Sylhet Road Expansion Project,” the experts said the environmental impact of the projects or the compensation to the affected was not noticed which goes against the National Development Policy.
A discussion meeting was also held where many other government officials and civil society organizations (CSOs) were present.
The seminar was organized by the Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), Diakonia and Reality of Aid.
It was chaired by Md Shamsuddoha, chief executive of CPRD while Mihir Biswas, joint secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Aminur Rasul, executive director of Unnayan Dhara Trust, Mohammad Shahjahan, director of YPSA and Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, a senior journalist of Kaler Kantho were present as special guests.
The research findings were presented by CPRD's Research and Advocacy Officer Al Imran.
CourtesyAs the chair of the event, Md Shamsuddoha said it's appreciable how, as a developing country, Bangladesh is initiating and implementing many small and mega-scale projects with its limited capacity.
“The level of expected service from a project depends on whether the project has been implemented according to the plan, the management of the project and its maintenance and operations. Suppose there is no opportunity for the project beneficiaries to participate in the implementation and monitoring stage, the projects don't succeed,” said Shamsuddoha.
“Unfortunately, participation of the stakeholders in the 'Sustainable Water Supply Project' and ‘Dhaka-Sylhet Road expansion Project' was not appreciable. Also, focus on the environmental impact of the projects or any alternative plans as compensation was not noticed either,” he said.
If a sustainable life and livelihood for the affected people of the project location is not guaranteed, the discrimination between city and village will keep increasing; which basically goes against the National Development Policy, he added.
Reflecting on the study findings, Mihir Biswas said the development will not bring benefit to all if equal development is not ensured.
He also said development projects should be taken very carefully for such a climate-afflicted country like Bangladesh.
Aminur Rasul said rivers and water bodies are the lifelines of Bangladesh. “We CSOs are always against grabbing and contaminating water bodies,” he said.
This research shows the “Sustainable Water Supply Project" and “Dhaka-Sylhet Road Expansion Project” does not consider the conservation of the water bodies. The time is running out to protect the lifeline of Bangladesh, he added.
Nikhil Chandra thanked CPRD for this insightful research work which will guide the development activities on the right and accurate track.
“We must not expect unsustainable development activities that will darken our future in the long run,” he said.
Seeking the attention of CPRD, he added: “This research work should not be halted at this stage and its findings need to be disseminated to the policy-making level”.
Md Shahjahan said: “We, civil society are not against the development. We want that the development activities would progress in full swing but these should not be a threat to our future.”
He also thanked CPRD for this timely research work.
After the end of the event, a water purifier was handed over to Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) from CPRD to discourage single-use plastic bottles in the Nasrul Hamid auditorium.
