EquityBD, along with a group of rights activists, criticized the role of UN ESCAP and Government of Bangladesh (GoB), the host country of the on going Asia Pacific LDC conference, as they ignored CSOs participation from a ‘broad spectrum’ and violated the ‘aid memorie’ between GoB and the UNESCAP in organizing this high level meeting of the LDCs from the Asia and Pacific. The ERD of GoB favors the proposition of the international financial institutions that’s why they invited corporate NGOs as civil society representatives who in fact do not challenge global financial and governance architecture. EquityBD said this through organizing a press conference on 18 January 2010, during the UN ESCAP meeting, which held in Dhaka on 18 and 19 January 2010.
Aside with the above criticism, the organizers demanded immediate debt cancellation of the LDC especially, debt of the earthquake affected Haiti; establishment of international court on food rights; duty free and quota free access of LDC products and tangible commitment on aid for trade to strengthen supply side of the LDCs. In respect of climate negotiation the group demanded a separate negotiating block of the LDCs and MVCs (most vulnerable countries) which should be independent from G 77 and China block that is largely dominated by the interest of the advanced developing countries.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, convener EquityBD, moderated the press conference while Md. Shamsuddoha General Secretary of EquityBD read out the written statement. Among other organizers, Badurl Alam of La Via Campesina, Ahemd Swapan of VOICE, Sahadat Islam Chowdhuray of PRADIP, Zaid Iqbal of Bangladesh Krisak Federation. Mostafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD spoke in the press conference. Details

Please download the press release [Bangla] [English ] position paper [Bangla ] [English] , powerpoint presentation, photos and media coverage.