Dhaka 22nd October 2009: EquityBD, a network of NGOs and CSOs in Bangladesh, raised concern on the mismatch of poverty reduction target, GDP growth and resource allocation. EquityBd raised this concern in a a press conference organized at national press club titled “ Is PRS II politically pro poor : PRS II a document of business as usual” while Rezaul Karim Chowdhury made the key presentation. Among others, Md.Shamsuddoha, Mostafa Kamal Akanda, Sayed Aminul Haque and Dr. Sohel Iqbal of EquityBd also spoke on different aspects of country's economics and social development policies before the press.
 
Syed Amimul Hoque said that the election manifesto of the present government also the PRS II sets objective to reduce number of poor people by half by 2013 with the projected GDP growth respectively 5.5, 5.6 and 5.9 in next three year period. The projected poverty reduction target is so ambitious which is annually 4 percent while the existing trend is 1.5 percent only. Besides achievement of targetrd poverty reduction would require 8 % GDP growth annually, which seems hardly possible.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury mentioned that the target of mobilizing approximately $ 16 billion deficits in three year period is not a realistic target as currently government is getting only 1 to 1.3 billion foreign assistance and 0.8 billion Foreign Direct Investment annually. He also mentioned that country might be in debt trap of per capita $ 205 as the government is asking for loan for mega projects like metro lane, Padma Bridge, deep sea port and nuclear power plant and around 30 percent of annual revenue expenditure would be spent for debt servicing while the current debt servicing volume is 20 percent of revenue expenditure, he added. In this relation they urged government to make all foreign loan negotiation transparent to public and with the approval of parliament.
 
Md. Shamsuddoha raised question on present rhetoric and real policy in respect of agriculture in PRS II. He mentioned the PRS II outlined measures of attaining country’ food security through commercialization, privatization of agriculture and irrigation, and in some places it has mentioned to downsize BADC and BCIC, which is contradictory to the government “one house and one farm” policy. He argued government to mould the policy to attain food self sufficiency on priority basis, as it is related to national sovereignty. Dr. Sohel Iqbal mentioned that government's on going measures on local government and ICTs are contradictory with the stated objectives of PRS II. According to the policy paper, local governments will have direct access to donor or foreign loan which might create another step to put the country in debt trap.
Sparkers in the press conference praised government’s step for placing the document for parliamentary discussion and declaration that they will go for five year plan after next two years. Speakers urged government to consider poverty reduction as a political mobilization.

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