Dhaka 11 October 2008: In relation to the global day of action against IFIs, Debt and Climate, Equity & Justice Working Group-Bangladesh (EquityBD) organized a round table discussion on  “Multi Donor Trust Fund for Climate Change Adaptation and the role of World Bank" at National Press Club, Dhaka. The objective of this seminar was to sensitize people’s opinion against the involvement of the World Bank in the management of Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF)for climate change adaptation in Bangladesh.

Md Shamsuddoha, General Secretary of EquityBD, presented the keynote paper while Dr Tofail Ahmed moderated the seminar. In the keynote presentation Md Shamsuddoha said, the formation of such a special fund for Bangladesh was first proposed by the UK government in the 'UK-Bnagladesh Climate Conference' held in Dhaka in March 2008. Following this conferenec, the goverment of Bangladesh prepared 'Climate Strategy Paper and Action Plan' and presented in the 2nd UK-Bangladesh Climate Conference held in London in September 2008 wherein UK governemnt proposed involvement of the WB in the management of this trust fund. He said all climate funding should be through the existing government channels, adding that there should not be any separate body like the World Bank for channeling the fund and overseeing the management of the fund. Md Shamsuddoha called on the government not to take any fund given by the WB imposing tough conditions and regulations. 

Abul Mal Al Muhit, ex-Finance Minister of the government of Bangladesh, said the risks of climate change could not be faced only by undertaking few projects, the matter should be underscored in all development plans and projects. “The representation of the people who are vulnerable to climate change should be included in fund management and developing the climate change strategy paper,” he added.

Rejecting the ‘Climate Change Strategy and Action for Bangladesh’ of the government of Bangladesh, Ziaul Haque said UK Bangladesh Conference on climate change reached a consensus that the polluter countries would reduce only 50 per cent of their total carbon emission by 2050, which is considered by the scientists insignificant. He urged the government not to refer to this term in the next UN convention on climate change.

Local government specialist and Chittagong University Prof Dr Tofail Ahmed said climate change issue is now a matter of national existence. So, it should be underscored seriously.

Online Print Media Coverage		Details
	Ensure people's representation	Daily Star Click
	WB meddling in MDT Fund management opposed	New Nation Click
	Climate change multi-donor fund, an evil strategy: speakers	New Age Click
	Climate group opposes WB's supremacy in MDTF management	Financila Express Click
Power Point Presentation
Management of Climate Fund and Role of the WB		Download
EquityBD Position Paper on MDTF
Funding must be within existing channel, within the frame of justice and reparation and without any involvement of IFIs.		Download
Is Bangladesh has tried as a Scapegoat for Global Climate Business ?		Download

Please download the Bangla Position paper 1, Position paper 2