Centre for Policy Dialogue Bangladesh April-June 2014 Vol XIII Issue 2 Quarterly

the editor's desk

Activities related to the national budget and analysis of the Bangladesh economy remained on the forefront during this busiest quarter The analysis was prepared overnight following the Finance Minister’s budget speech of CPD. In May, CPD prepared a set of recommendations in view of the Budget FY2015 Immediate reaction to proposed FY2015 Budget taking cognisance of the macroeconomic developments Right fiscal measures within weak framework in FY2014. CPD’s flagship report on State of the Fiscal measures in the proposed budget the analysis. Increased public expenditure at Bangladesh Economy (third review) released in this were largely in order and tuned to budgetary 7 per cent of GDP did not reflect quality of period particularly underscored the need for a congenial objectives but inadequate to attain 7.3 per work as spending and block allocation lacked political environment to lost investment dynamism cent GDP growth while private investment transparency. needed for restoring growth acceleration. maintained a continuous declining trend. Positive measures such as new tax bracket Following the announcement of the Budget FY2015 The basis of achieving such growth remains for high-income, higher surcharge on wealth by the Finance Minister, in keeping with its tradition, a suspect as it would require Tk. 75 thousand of the rich, health surcharge on tobacco CPD came up with its quick response and analysis. crore additional investments a year, products, green tax, new VAT imposition CPD noted that fiscal framework was weak, many of the underscored the analysis of the National areas, increased source tax for land macroeconomic correlates in the proposed budget were Budget for FY2015, presented during a media registration, and steps such as allowance inconsistent, and key fiscal targets did not reflect the briefing at BRAC Centre Inn on 6 June 2014. increment for Liberation War fighters and realities on the ground. In view of these concerns CPD The analysis flagged that macroeconomic other groups, tax exemption for small proposed to establish four independent commissions correlates in the proposed budget were industries, tax holiday and rebate facilities for that are expected to raise the efficacy of economic inconsistent and key fiscal targets did not decentralising industrialisation, separate governance and effective implementation of the budget. reflect reality in designing of the framework, district budget received appreciation in the Detailed discussion on CPD’s FY2015 budget noted CPD Distinguished Fellow Dr CPD analysis. analysis took place at a national dialogue in Dhaka, and Debapriya Bhattacharya, on behalf of the However, the analysis found declining also later in Sylhet, with a diverse range of CPD-Independent Review of Bangladesh’s trends in the allocations for agriculture and stakeholders. For broader outreach CPD also hosted a Development (IRBD) team. allied sectors; education and health sectors live TV talk show series focusing on governance of the CPD identified that the budgetary as percentage of GDP; for ADP projects economy and the budget. measures aimed to attain fiscal consolidation concerning development of children; and the A number of other CPD dialogues in this period backed up by high growth revenue, revitalise real value of allowance under social safety included democratic polity in Bangladesh, Bangladesh’s economic growth momentum, revert the net programmes in last few fiscal years. trade opportunities with India and Jamdani as a downturn of investments and further control Among salient recommendations, CPD geographical indications (GI) product. The dialogue inflation. However, the budget did not provide proposed to establish an Agricultural Price on GI discussed how Bangladesh could establish its GI for necessary institutional reforms towards Commission to ensure fair price for agricultural claim regarding Jamdani as a unique product improved fiscal-budgetary management as commodities and incentive for producers while of Bangladesh. well as supportive policy environment. maintaining market stability; an Independent The quarter also saw CPD’s activism concerning A review of the fiscal framework identified Statistical Commission to validate the follow-up activities on Rana Plaza Monitoring Initiative. domestic borrowing, ADP implementation macroeconomic correlates as well as a Local A number of meetings and a dialogue engaging its and non-tax revenue as the most volatile Government Financing Commission and a partners and various stakeholders revealed that a components. Concerns remained that Public Expenditure Review Commission. high-level standing commission should be constituted to domestic borrowing at an average cost of Capacity development of IMED was also monitor implementation of the tripartite Action Plan. 8.75 per cent for deficit financing would considered crucial for implementation of major Under its global programmes CPD partnered with burden interest payment, consuming infrastructural projects. Southern Voice on Post-MDGs to debate South-South one-third revenue earnings. In case of ADP, CPD researchers maintained their stance Cooperation on the sidelines of the GPEDC in Mexico. almost 700 projects remained without against the provision of whitening black CPD senior researchers participated at the stock taking approval while critically important projects fell money, which, according to them, workshop as part of Post-2015 Data Test initiative, led short of timely implementation and desired contradicted the revised strategies for by the CPD, in partnership with Southern Voice and outcome, resulting wastage of money. revenue collection. They also urged to phase North South Institute, Ottawa. In this quarter, CPD The expectation of mobilising over USD 4 out quick rental power plants and called for professionals also participated in the United Nations billion foreign resource to finance 71.3 per effective measures to restrict capital flight High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. cent incremental deficit seemed unrealistic in which was supposedly on the rise. CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE (CPD) A CIVIL SOCIETY THINK TANK

CPD activities related to the economy and the National Budget The challenge of balancing resource availability with expenditure expansion Post-election upsurge yet to be seen Fiscal policy package for FY2015 will highway and power plants, require consolidation of public expansion of gas connection, leather expenditure with prudent processing zone and relocation of prioritisation, an intensification of tanneries, she added. revenue mobilisation drive, and closer In view of the ambitious revenue attention to financing of fiscal deficit collection target at around Tk. with emphasis on foreign financing. 1,50,000 crore, CPD opposed The expected fiscal policy corporate tax cuts, already among measures should create an enabling the lowest in South Asia, noting that it environment for Bangladesh would have little impact on economy, and improve investment enhancing investment. On the scenario to regain the growth contrary, CPD recommended momentum lost due to political (left) Towfiqul Islam Khan, Debapriya Bhattacharya, Mustafizur Rahman, Fahmida Khatun rationalisation of tax incentive volatility during the first half of FY2014. and Khondaker Golam Moazzem structure, phasing out of tax holiday The recommendations emerged from “A Set of Proposals for the National facility, curbing tax defaulting and evasion through mispricing and Budget FY2015,” prepared as part of the CPD-IRBD programme, during a misdeclaration, implementing wealth tax collection and formulation of leasing media briefing at BRAC Centre Inn on 4 May 2014. policy to tap non-tax revenue. CPD Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya opined that Some salient recommendations from the proposals included subsidised Bangladesh’s GDP growth accelerated by one per cent each decade over the past credit facility and increased VAT exemption for SMEs for recovery from years irrespective of changes in governments, but the trend might discontinue damages due to political turmoil; incentives for non-RMG export-oriented amid the prevailing lacklustre investment scenario. He urged the government to industries for improved competitiveness and expand export development fund; strategise its institutional and political measures to tackle the situation. allowing nationalised commercial banks to mobilise capital from capital market; In view of an assessment of macroeconomic developments in FY2014, CPD reducing import duty on raw materials for furniture and pharmaceuticals; exit Research Director Dr Fahmida Khatun identified declining growth in revenue plans for quick rental power plants; and establishing an agricultural price income, exports, private credit, remittance, foreign aid and lower ADP, commission to curb retail level price of agricultural commodities, etc. implementation during the third quarter. Noting that the economy was likely to Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director, CPD urged the experience slower growth for the third consecutive year without adequate policymakers to pay attention to non-economic issues such as capacity private investment, Dr Khatun observed that fiscal measures for boosting enhancement of Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), investment and reorienting the Board of Investment with a better investment and improvment of reform and weak oversight capacity of institutions agenda should be put in place. belonging to the ’national integrity system.’ The government needs to make Fiscal measures for public investment should cover enhanced ADP sure that the non-economic factors do not impede the potential of quality and allocation for railway and speedy implementation of fast-track projects on quantity of investments from turning into desired economic growth, he added. State of the Bangladesh Economy in FY2014 (Third Reading) Restore entrepreneurs’ confidence through conducive politics to accelerate investment uncertainties caused deceleration in the investment growth, particularly in the private sector. Professor Rahman noted that the projection of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on service sector of attaining higher growth in the current fiscal did not conform to how political violence laid damage on all nine subsectors including land transport, wholesale, retail trade, hotel, restaurant, real estate, renting and business activities. In the above backdrop, major challenges for the government include reinvigorating the investment environment, and financing public expenditure, particularly if the negative trends in revenue collection and foreign aid disbursement remain unchanged. The review particularly emphasised return to democratic polity, institutional strengthening, targeted Government therefore needed to pay attention to prioritising reforms and good governance at all levels foreign aid over domestic resources for deficit financing; increase An enabling political environment through inclusive and participatory political revenue collection by almost 35 per cent; and devise cost-effective and culture will be key to regain investors’ confidence for enhanced private efficient strategy for power generation keeping in mind rising requirement; investment and GDP growth, both being undermined by political uncertainties. resolve emerging issues such as negative growth of remittance, manpower Despite an unreliable political climate for investment coupled with export and lacklustre performance of non-RMG sectors. malfunctioning institutions and persistent structural weakness, Bangladesh’s The IRBD review also came up with suggestions for setting up a task force to economic performance was characterised by relative macroeconomic stability address pending reforms; ensure further fiscal autonomy, more effective in the backdrop of contained inflation, sustained exchange rates, high foreign devolution of power for local governments, capacity enhancement of exchange reserves and high export earnings. implementation Aside from sustaining a higher GDP growth between 8 to 10 per cent, agencies for non-economic factors such as good governance, strengthening institutions major public and local government, and conducive political environment will be key drivers sector for Bangladesh to become a middle-income country by 2021, underscored the investment third IRBD review on the State of the Bangladesh Economy in FY2014, projects, and presented at a media briefing at BRAC Centre Inn on 1 June 2014. transaction While presenting the study, Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Executive costs reduction Director, CPD maintained that Bangladesh economy during the first for contract half of FY2014 was confronted with severe disruption in production, enforcement, transport and service delivery; while in the second half, political etc. Expert Group Meeting on the review of the economy on 29 May 2014

CPD Quarterly 2 April - June 2014 CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE (CPD) A CIVIL SOCIETY THINK TANK

CPD activities related to the economy and the National Budget Dialogue on National Budget FY2015 Ambitions in abundance, fiscal framework not in tune The ambitions set in the proposed macroeconomic correlates; setting budget need to be attuned to the up an Agriculture Price Commission, realisation of budgetary targets, a Local Government Financing observed discussants during a CPD Commission and a Public dialogue on Analysis of the National Expenditure Review Commission, Budget FY2014-15 held at were other recommendations. Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka on 14 Highlighting the government’s June 2014. success in achieving previous Alongside successful budget revenue targets, Chief Guest Mr A H implementation, Bangladesh’s target M Mustafa Kamal, MP, Minister for to become a middle-income country Planning hoped for a more inclusive by 2021 would call for addressing budget in future with reforms in the infrastructural deficiency as well as NBR and materialisation of wealth ensuring good governance and (left) Fahmida Khatun, Akbar Ali Khan, A H M Mustafa Kamal, Rehman Sobhan, tax to make the economy more agreeable political climate, they noted. M A Mannan, Salehuddin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman sustainable. Special Guest Mr M A During the keynote presentation, CPD Research Director Dr Fahmida Mannan, MP, State Minister for Finance and Planning, felt that the projected Khatun highlighted that CPD has iteratively suggested economic reforms and 7.3 per cent GDP growth rate would not be impossible to achieve. an enabling institutional and policy environment to realise budgetary target CPD Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya opined that and implementation, resulting into desired macroeconomic performance. budgeting for a fiscal year differs greatly from ambitious planning and Establishing an Independent Statistical Commission to validate the therefore expectations centring ambitious targets (Continued on page 6) Analysis of the National Budget FY2014-15 Local Level Dialogue in Sylhet Deliberations on the CPD analysis allocation for private schools of the National Budget gained particularly for improving vocational regional outreach through a and technical education; better local-level dialogue in Sylhet, in allocation for development of the association with Sacheton Nagorik disadvantaged groups; special Committee (SANAC), held on 22 allocation for NGOs, and reduction June 2014. of corruption in tax collection In the keynote presentation, CPD process, etc. Additional Research Director Dr During the floor discussion, Khondaker Golam Moazzem participants highlighted issues focused on the state of the national related to development of Sylhet economy, the long-term implications Floor discussants highlighted Sylhet’s potential as a business hub and the region’s region including lack of allocation for of the budget on the economy and contribution to the economy through remittance and tourism infrastructure development in Sylhet the local economy of Sylhet. He underscored ten critical issues from the include Dhaka-Sylhet four-lane highway; meager allocation for the tourism proposed national budget, including public finance framework, efficiency in development in the region; insufficient allocation for education and health public expenditure, revenue generation by tax administration, incentives for sectors; little attention for the improvement of the livelihood of the reverting private investment and district budget allocation for Sylhet. tea-workers; immediate implementation of SEZs; lack of allocation for Chief Guest Mr M A Mannan, MP, Hon’ble State Minister for Finance and developing the haor area of Sunamgonj district. Planning; Special Guests Mr Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Mayor, Sylhet City The event was also addressed by Guest of Honour Mr Md Shahidul Islam, Corporation and Professor Dr Md Aminul Haque Bhuyan, Vice Chancellor, Deputy Commissioner, Sylhet; two Designated Discussants Mr Mohammad Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) addressed the event Sadiqunnabi Chowdhury, Assistant Professor of Economics, SUST and chaired by CPD Executive Director Professor Mustafizur Rahman. Advocate Irfanuzzaman Chowdhury, President, SANAC, Sylhet, and also Discussants drew upon national and regional issues including suggestions Coordinator, BLAST, Sylhet Unit; local academics, civil society towards revenue and expenditure; rise of tax base instead of tax rate; representatives, government officials, former civil servants and lawyers. CPD-Channel 24 Live Talk Show Series Bangladesh Economy and National Budget (A_©bxwZ I ev‡RU) Ahead of the National Budget for FY2015, Mansur, Executive Director, Policy CPD conducted a five-episode TV series Research Institute of Bangladesh; Dr on issues namely macroeconomic context Rushidan Islam Rahman, Research and fiscal framework, rural economy, Director, BIDS; Dr M M Akash, Professor, investment, poverty and employment Department of Economics, University of and non-economic factors during 18-21 Dhaka and Mr Latifur Rahman, Chairman May 2014. and CEO, Transcom Limited. Apart from CPD senior researchers, The panel discussions were joined panellists also included Dr Muhammad through video conferencing by experts Abdur Razzaque, MP, Chairman, from outside Dhaka including Mr Md Abu Parliamentary Standing Committee on Bakker Ali, President, Rajshahi Chamber Ministry of Finance and Former Minister of Commerce and Industry; Mr Mahbubul for Food; Mr Amir Khosru Mahmud The show was aired in partnership with Channel 24 Alam, President, Chittagong Chamber of Chowdhury, Member, Advisory Council, BNP; Dr A B Mirza Azizul Islam, Commerce and Industry and Mr Mostofa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu, President, Former Advisor to the Caretaker Government; Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Former Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Governor, Bangladesh Bank; Professor M A Sattar Mandal, Former Member, The talks were moderated by Mr Towfiqul Islam Khan, Research Fellow and Planning Commission; Dr Zahid Hussain, Lead Economist, The World Bank; Ms Khaleda Akhter, Senior Research Associate, CPD. The Daily Samakal Dr Hassan Zaman, Chief Economist, Bangladesh Bank; Dr Ahsan Habib was the print media partner.

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Dialogue on Jamdani as a GI Product Operationalise Geographical Indication Act, protect Jamdani legacy The government should UNESCO’s list of the operationalise the Geographical “Masterpieces of the Oral and Indication Act without any further Intangible Heritage of Humanity” delay to claim the authenticity of in 2013. Jamdani as a Bangladeshi Designated Discussant heritage product with Barrister Shukla Sarwat Siraj, Geographical Indication (GI). Bangladesh Supreme Court Lapses in the recently enacted underscored that the Geographical Indicative government should make the Products (Registration and Bangladesh GI Act competent to Protection) Act 2013 must also protect authentic products and be identified so that Bangladesh pave support for dispute could settle parallel enlisting of settlements in this regard in the same products with countries international context. She such as India, which already has mentioned that India could have taken the advantage of its GI Act taken an initiative for a reciprocal (left) Iftekhar Iqbal, Monira Emdad, Debapriya Bhattacharya, Hameeda Hossain and Shukla Siraj to entitle Uppada Jamdani arrangement with Bangladesh to sarees as an authentic Indian product. settle conventions on Jamdani between the two countries. The observations emerged from a Dialogue on “Protecting Geographical Once the Jamdani is registered as a unique GI product, Bangladesh Indication Products in the Context of Bangladesh and the Way Forward,” should even take actions through WTO for the settlement with India, organised by CPD and National Crafts Council of Bangladesh (NCCB) at stressed CPD Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, also Chair CIRDAP Auditorium on 17 June 2014. of the event. He added that promulgation of the recently enacted GI Act Operationalisation of the GI Act would require finalisation of the draft rules, would ensure that the trade profit from GI products is reaching the local establishment of a GI unit, recruitment of a registrar and human resource as weavers and producers. well as financial support, observed the discussants. Acknowledging the Eminent fashion designers and boutique owners Ms Bibi Russell, Founder loopholes in the current Act, patent and foreign ministry officials present at of Bibi Production and Mr Shahid Hussain Shamim, CEO of Prabartana Ltd the dialogue hoped for effective steps to defend Jamdani for Bangladesh and also General Secretary of NCCB, voiced concerns on protecting the when the rules are finalised. local Jamdani weavers and their unique craft and raising awareness about Dr Iftekhar Iqbal, Associate Professor of History, University of Dhaka, in counterfeit Jamdani variations. his field-level study “Protection of Jamdani as a Geographical Indication in The floor discussion was addressed by Dr Hameeda Hossain, Former Bangladesh,” showed that academic references on social and cultural Chair, Ain o Salish Kendra; Ms Khushi Kabir, Member, CPD Board of contexts, trading documents, historical events and oral testimonies from Trustees; Mr Selim Ahmed Chowdhury, Examiner (GI and WTO), weavers fully support the authenticity of Jamdani as a Dhaka-based Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks; Mr S M Nurul Alam, “surviving variety of the world renowned muslin from ancient period.” The Director, WTO Cell, Ministry of Commerce; Ms Shanchita Haque, Director, origin of Jamdani can be traced back to craftsmanship of Bengali mercantile Economic Affairs Wing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr Suhel Ahmed community of the 15th century Sonargaon in Dhaka. Choudhury, Former Commerce Secretary; Ms Monira Emdad, Executive “Jamdani should be named as Jamdani, not ‘Dhakai Jamdani’, as one of Member, NCCB; Ms Ruby Ghuznavi, Vice President, NCCB; Dr Mohammad the foremost GI products in Bangladesh,” argued Dr Iqbal. He informed that Abu Yusuf, Senior Research Fellow, BFTI; Ms Mahua Zahur, Lecturer of the traditional art of weaving Jamdani muslin in Bangladesh was included in Law, BRAC University; Mr Saiful Islam, CEO, Drik, among others.

Sustainable democracy requires (from page 12) while electing leaders at all levels and refraining Majumder, Member Secretary of SHUJAN. Chowdhury, both Advisory Council Members of from boycotting the Parliament could lead towards Promoting honest and competent candidates for BNP Chairperson; Former Chief Election the way out of one-man-centric politics. nominations and getting rid of people enjoying Commissioner Dr A T M Shamsul Huda and Former Designated discussant, Professor Imtiaz Ahmed impunity due to their political alliance would restore Election Commissioner Brig. Gen. (Retd) Sakhawat of International Relations, University of Dhaka, democratic culture, he added. Hussain; Mr M Hafizuddin Khan, Former Advisor, argued that good governance could be restored The floor discussion was also addressed by Ms Caretaker Government; Ambassador Munshi Faiz through dissolution of the politics-business nexus Shirin Akhter, MP, Member of Parliamentary Ahmad, Chairman, BIISS; Dr Binayak Sen, that is profitable for a vested quarter in Bangladesh. Standing Committee on Ministry of Labour and Research Director, BIDS; Mr S M Akram, Former Political activism should be in line with the Employment; Ambassador Mr Shamsher Mobin Member of Parliament; and Ms Munira Khan, Representation of the People Order (RPO), Chowdhury, BNP Vice Chairman; Mr Amir Khosru Former Member, Human Rights Commission, suggested another Discussant Dr Badiul Alam Mahmud Chowdhury and Mr Enam Ahmed among others.

Embassy officials visit CPD

H E Christian M Fotsch, Ambassador of Switzerland in Bangladesh H E Pankaj Saran, High Commissioner and Sujit Ghosh, Counsellor (Political & visited on 7 April 2014 Information), Indian High Commission visited on 8 April 2014

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Post-Rana Plaza Monitoring: A Civil Society Initiative Dialogue on One Year after the Rana Plaza Tragedy Long-term needs of Rana Plaza victims unaddressed The Rana Plaza victims are Through an audio in need of long-term support conference, Dr Moazzem regarding compensation, spoke with two affected treatment and alternative persons, Ms Reema and Mr employment scheme, Altaf, undergoing treatment at despite yearlong attention Centre for the Rehabilitation given to some of their of the Paralysed (CRP) and immediate concerns. at a hospital in Savar, A coordinated plan and respectively. They noted that approach to address short to the short-term support and long-term issues concerning compensation they received the post-Rana Plaza following the collapse ran out follow-ups and the RMG shortly. sector are yet to be (left) Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Shirin Akhter, Rehman Sobhan, Mikail Shipar and Mustafizur Rahman Over 70 per cent of the developed, observed affected workers in the discussants at the dialogue organised as part of the Post-Rana Plaza tragedy could not find reemployment while over 50 per cent were heavily Monitoring: A Civil Society Initiative, in partnership with a number of civil society indebted without adequate support during the last year, informed Mr Asgar Ali organisations and eminent citizens, at BRAC Centre Inn on 23 April 2014. Sabri, a Director at ActionAid during the floor discussion. CPD Additional Director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, in his Guest of Honour Mr Mikail Shipar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and presentation, “One Year after the Rana Plaza Tragedy: Where Do We Stand? Employment reported that 962 people affected in the tragedy received about Tk the Victims, the Sector and the Value Chain,” underscored speedy enactment 15 crore in compensation while 173 of legal measures against those responsible for the collapse; standardising people were yet to receive any factory inspection; time-bound refurbishment of factories; turning compensation and the government ‘sub-contracting’ factories compliant and viable for business; capacity received 206 DNA test results out of 291 upgradation of the Ministry of Labour, Fire Service and Civil Defence unidentified workers. The government authority; and building local ownership of reform and restructuring activities. has acquired land in Munshiganj to The discussants observed that lack of coordination, improper gradually relocate the shared and implementation and disorganised governance are undermining the envisaged converted RMG factories, he added. During the dialgoue, an affected woman initiatives in the context of post-Rana Plaza follow-up. Trade union and labour leaders Sona Banu shares the inadequacy of the compensation she recieved urged the Prime Minister’s Office for speedy distribution of aid received in forms of donation and compensation for the victims and further distribution of compensation from the ILO Trust Fund and the BGMEA. Calling for the workers’ welfare, they insisted BGMEA to arrange alternative employment for the affected workers, and also raised concerns that production pressure was rising at the RMG factories after the minimum wage increased. Guest of Honour Ms Shirin Akhter, MP, Member, Parliamentary Standing Commitee on Ministry of Labour and Employment expressed hope that her ministry will address complaints and recommendations related to the Rana Plaza tragedy with greater responsibility. Stalls of the Initiative’s partnering organisations demonstrate ongoing activities Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director, CPD urged the concerning the follow-up government for transparent account of all resources, disbursements as well Chair of the event, Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, CPD proposed the as proper identifications of workers on a legally recognisable website. formation of a high-level standing commission on the victims and the follow-ups On behalf of the CPD, he proposed to declare 24 April as ‘Labour to bring together relevant experts for periodical review and implementations of Safety Day,’ and also establishing a memorial and a workers’ safety institute internationally-compliant short to long-term action plans. at the crash site. (Continued on page 9)

Meetings ahead of one year since the tragedy Post-Rana Plaza Development and Future Agenda CPD organised three expert group processes; ascertaining future meetings to follow up on the overall ownership accountability of private progress of Post-Rana Plaza monitoring initiatives; maintaining Monitoring: A Civil Society Initiative effective transparency exercise; throughout one year since the Rana improving coordination at all levels; Plaza collapse on 24 April 2013. exploring the impact of minimum The discussions on “Post-Rana wage implementation; ensuring Plaza Development and Future workers’ safety security and improve Agenda” aimed to have an updated livelihood; monitoring RMG scenario about the activities being subcontracting activity; reviewing undertaken by government, buyers, judicial process for industrial dispute different associations and The meetings invited development partners, monitoring authorities, trade bodies, as well resolution; and training and education development partners. The meetings as RMG owners and trade union leaders for those involved in the RMG sector. were held with Accord, Alliance, ILO and representatives from National The meetings also sought to improve understanding of the challenges faced Tripartite Committee (NTC); BGMEA and BKMEA; and with development by the RMG sector in view of the current initiatives, reform measures and partners on 2, 3 and 7 April 2014 respectively. attempts of restructuring. Discussants also identified potential research areas Discussants raised issues such as reforms in immediate and long-term for CPD to undertake in support of the export-oriented RMG sector’s need to initiatives; determining sustainability of the initiatives; hastening inspections address the attendant concerns in view of the Rana Plaza tragedy.

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Dialogue on Bangladesh’s export opportunities to India Trade facilitation, supply-side capacity both critical Bangladesh will need to diversify its which has plummeted in recent export basket in order to enhance times despite the DFMA facilities. export competitiveness and take full In this regard, Designated advantage of the duty-free market Discussant Mr Abdul Matlub access (DFMA) offer of India for the Ahmad, Immediate Past President SAARC LDCs. and Special Adviser, India- Deepening bilateral relationship Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce with India covering the spectrum of and Industry (IBCCI), stressed that trade, investment, transport and large Indian brands can invest in people-to-people connectivity is also Bangladesh to produce quality crucial for Bangladesh to realise the products to be exported to India. potential opportunities emerging Investment from India will, however, from the DFMA. require adequate supply of gas and The observations surfaced at the (left) Mahbub Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Md Shahriar Alam, MP, Rehman Sobhan, power as well as land at reasonable CPD dialogue on “Utilising Indian Abdul Awal Mintoo, Abdul Matlub Ahmad and Syed A Al-Muti price, he added. Market Access Offer through Promotion of Trade Facilitation,” held at Mr Bijay Selvaraj, First Secretary (Commerce), Indian High Commission Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka on 22 April 2014. urged Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to consider the Indian population and The event’s Chair, Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, CPD market size for potential export opportunities. He noted that trade and underscored that the realisation of the DFMA facilities has a historical investment dialogues in future should touch upon containerisation and significance as previous leaders and politicians had talked over this issue multimodal transport issues. during various Indo-Bangladesh dialogues and meetings during the last Strengthening Bangladesh’s diplomatic and business presence in Indian three decades. market would be crucial to realising trade potentials, noted Dr Debapriya Presenting major findings of the study, Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, CPD. He identified lack of initiatives, Executive Director, CPD recommended investment in land port and discontinuity of business ventures, lack of political leadership and infrastructure development to overcome infrastructure-related bottlenecks. coordination among the ministries as the major drawbacks impeding the He stressed the necessity of ‘Single Window’ facilities and electronic data expansion of Bangladesh’s trade to India. interchange in simplifying inadequate customs and port facilities. Chief Guest Mr Md Shahriar Alam, MP, Hon’ble State Minister for Foreign The study also suggested Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between Affairs mentioned the government’s initiatives to facilitate Indo-Bangladesh India and Bangladesh as regards testing, certification and licensing of trade and visa procedures. Among other initiatives, establishment of a products to resolve and overcome non-tariff barriers and procedural Bangladesh Mission in Guwahati is underway and awaiting final approval complexities of export and trade-related documentation. from the Indian government, he added. The study, co-authored by CPD Senior Research Associate Ms Khaleda The dialogue was also addressed by Mr Syed A Al-Muti, Programme Akhter, was undertaken in partnership with the Asia Foundation. Director, The Asia Foundation; Ambassador Farooq Sobhan, President, Guest of Honour Mr Abdul Awal Mintoo, Former President of FBCCI Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI); Major General (Retd.) Amjad Khan underscored that Bangladesh is in need of exportable products with brand Chowdhury, CEO, Pran Group; Mr Arshad Jamal Dipu, Director, BGMEA; Mr popularity in terms of price and quality to increase the export volume to India, Manzur Ahmed, Advisor, FBCCI and a number of prominent entrepreneurs. Ambitions in abundance (from page 3) should not exceed the reality of implementation related to infrastructure and reinvigorate the investment, a main budgetary challenge; and challenges since budgeting was subject to critical IMED. He also highlighted major challenges for focus more on agriculture for increasing planning within a precise framework. the government such as sluggish employment production and ensuring fair price for farmers. As regards budget reviewing, CPD Chairman creation; increasing inequality and regional The dialogue was also addressed by Mr Md Professor Rehman Sobhan underscored the disparity in personal income; probable food and Tazul Islam, MP, Chair of Parliamentary Standing necessity of introducing performance-based non-food inflation hike etc. Committee on Ministry of Power, Energy budgeting in Bangladesh instead of a hypothetical Dr Shamsul Alam, Member, GED, Planning and Mineral Resources; Mr Kazi Akramuddin discussion over the budgetary measures as to the Commission noted that the FY2015 Budget has Ahmed, President, FBCCI; Mr Abdul Mannan goals and achievements. been made pro-people and pro-poor as revenue Howlader, Member, Socio-economic Guest of Honour Dr Akbar Ali Khan, Former target and social safety net allocations were Infrastructure Division, Planning Commission; Advisor to the Caretaker Government opined that higher for people’s welfare while high volume of Professor Abu Ahmed of Economics, Dhaka parliamentary discussion on the budget was import tax was exempted to favour entrepreneurs. University; Dr Hussain Monsur, Chairman, inadequate in terms of time and reviewing system The floor discussants urged the government to Petrobangla; Dr Rafiqul Islam Mondal, Director as required by a Westminster-style democracy. favour enabling political environment over policy General, BARI; Ms Taleya Rehman, Founder Guest of Honour Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Former measures for drawing foreign investment; expand Executive Director of Democracywatch; Mrs Priti Governor, Bangladesh Bank particularly urged the tax net and address the weaknesses in tax Chakraborty, Chairman, Aysha Memorial government to finish the incomplete ADP projects administration; implement PPP to enhance private Hospital; among others.

Meetings

IMF officials Rodrigo Cubero, Deputy Division Chief, Souvik Gupta, Economist and Stefan Dercon, Chief Economist, DFID speaking at a CPD meeting organised in his Sohrab Rafiq, Economist, Asia and Pacific Department visited CPD on 1 April 2014 honour at The Dhaka Westin on 29 May 2014

CPD Quarterly 6 April - June 2014 CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE (CPD) A CIVIL SOCIETY THINK TANK

International and Regional Activities GPEDC Mexico Ministerial on Global Development Cooperation CPD debates South-South Cooperation CPD senior researchers drew upon rigorous examination from conceptual clarity and practical multi-stakeholders’ perspectives. insights on South-South The CPD delegates were Dr Cooperation (SSC) at the first Debapriya Bhattacharya, Chair, High-Level Meeting of the Global Southern Voice on Post-MDGs and Partnership of Effective Distinguished Fellow, Professor Development Cooperation (GPEDC) Mustafizur Rahman, Executive in Mexico on 15 April 2014. Director and Dr Fahmida Khatun, The Focus Session “Locating Research Director. South-South Cooperation within The session was addressed by H Emerging Development Cooperation E Jaime Miranda, Foreign Minister Architecture,” deliberated on core of El Salvador; Ambassador Omar issues such as the importance of Abou Eich, Deputy Assistant SSC in the evolving context of Foreign Minister for International international development The session was organised by the Southern Voice on Post-MDGs, in association with CPD Cooperation for Development of cooperation; the necessity and and National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi Egypt; Ms Mariam Mahamat Nour, possibilities of developing a framework and a set of general principles as Minister of Economy, Planning and International Cooperation of Chad; Ms regards SSC; and whether the OECD/DAC-centred development Tomoko Nishimoto, Director on South-South Cooperation, UNEP and Dr cooperation framework can be improved upon by building on, learning from Shekhar Shah, Director-General, NCAER. and leveraging SSC experiences. Earlier Southern Voice on Post-MDGs along with CPD and NCAER The core objective of the session was to seek ways and means to integrate organised a regional outreach in New Delhi during 27-28 March 2014 to the SSC in the GPEDC. Being one of the important elements of the emerging generate a South Asian perspective on SSC. The outcome of this event was global development cooperation architecture, SSC requires a closer and also disseminated in the Mexico Ministerial. United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development Effective global partnership emphasised Strengthened and effective public finance, particularly global development domestic revenue resources cooperation is desired to and concessional foreign improve the global assistance to endow the governance and institutions ambitious goals of post-2015 so that low-income agenda. For this, he pointed countries can accelerate out that the global national efforts to reduce development community has poverty, inequality and to look beyond financial discrimination, noted Dr resources and generate Debapriya Bhattacharya. efficiency gains by The CPD Distinguished (left) Antonio Patriota, Permanent Representative, Brazil to UN; Bénédicte Frankinet, Permanent concluding international Fellow, also Chair, Southern Representative, Belgium to UN; Csaba Kőrösi, Co-Chair, Open Working Group on SDGs; Martin Sajdik, negotiations in a number of Voice on Post-MDGs, was President, ECOSOC; Jennifer de Laurentis, Council Secretary; Manish Bapna, Moderator, World Resources areas, including multilateral Institute; and Debapriya Bhattacharya addressing the opening trade, climate change, plenary of the United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on technology transfer, international tax agenda and financial architecture. Sustainable Development at UN Headquarter, New York on 30 June 2014. Created at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in The theme of the HLPF meeting was “Achieving the Millennium June 2012, the HLPF on Sustainable Development seeks to provide political Development Goals and Charting the Way for an Ambitious Post-2015 leadership, technical guidance and policy recommendations towards adoption Development Agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals”. of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the post-2015 Dr Bhattacharya in his speech emphasised the need to mobilise additional international development agenda. Post-2015 Data Test Midterm stock-taking workshop for country studies To take stock of the implementation process Researchers met with experts on the across country studies so far in the post-2015 development agenda and the Post-2015 Data Test, a two-day workshop data revolution to discuss experiences to was hosted by Partnership for African Social date, lessons learned, ways to address and Governance Research (PASGR) during challenges arising from the implementation 28-30 April 2014, in Nairobi, Kenya. of the study and next steps. With the support of the International The initiative will assess the adequacy of Development Research Centre’s Think data available for measuring post-2015 Tank Initiative, the William and Flora Hewlett progress at the country level, seeking to Foundation and PASGR, the Post-2015 inform debates and decisions on the Data Test Initiative aims to apply a select set architecture and priorities of the “data of potential post-2015 goals, targets and The initiative is led by CPD and the North-South Institute (NSI), Ottawa in revolution.” It will also identify opportunities indictors to a number of low, middle and high association with Southern Voice on Post-MDGs and PASGR and challenges that may arise from a income countries – Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Peru, Sierra Leone, universal, country-relevant post-2015 framework. Senegal, Tanzania and Turkey. Through the process, the initiative also seeks to enhance the capacity of Representatives from each country team, the UN, the OECD and research Southern think tanks – that will conduct the country studies – to contribute to institutions such as the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) participated at the global policy debates shaping the post-2015 agenda, while also ensuring the workshop as part of the initiative. that the global processes are informed by country-level realities.

CPD Quarterly 7 April - June 2014 CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE (CPD) A CIVIL SOCIETY THINK TANK

Workshop on Research Communication Digital channels for wider research dissemination Combining research into a pool of categories. Using the communication with digital channels ‘orchestra’ metaphor, the unique is crucial in giving visibility to think communication approach aimed to tank research, suggests Enrique put forward the most effective Mendizabal, an independent combination of items from the pool researcher and advisor on think as per the need of communication tanks and policy research networks. campaigns for particular events and Think tanks also need to monitor research outputs, keeping in mind their inputs and outputs and the target audience in individual incorporate communication skills in country context. the researchers’ jobs to be able to The workshop focused on SWOT communicate research timely and The workshop was organised under Think Tank Initiative (TTI) Matching Grant analysis of the think tanks effectively via the right channels. and Policy Engagement and Communications (PEC) programme communication teams, monitoring To improve communication capacity of think tanks and help them identify and evaluation of communication activities and underpinned required skills appropriate communication channels and tools for wider communication for communication personnel to have a thorough understanding of best ways outreach, Mr Mendizabal conducted a workshop on Research and means to deliver the aforesaid approach. Communication in Dhaka, during 18-21 May 2014. Following the workshop, Mr Mendizabal also met with the research team CPD Dialogue and Communication team, and participants from BRAC at CPD office and exchanged Institute of Governance and Democracy (BIGD), Dhaka (previously Institute views that young researchers of Governance Studies, IGS) and Sustainable Development Policy Institute at think tanks need to have (SDPI), Islamabad took part in the workshop. inspiring ideas ahead to The workshop emphasised an objectives-based strategy with an approach envisage positive changes in styled ‘communications as an orchestra’ that intended to strategise the realm of policymaking. communication channels and tools on the basis of circumstance, opportunity Participants and facilitators and capacity. The idea of an ‘orchestra’ envisaged the head of of the communication communications as a conductor and the communications officers as musicians workshop also included Ms Siobhan Duvigneau, Information Literacy for deploying the right communication tools in a synchronised manner. Manager at British Library for Development Studies and Ms Yaso During the workshop, participants reviewed their respective think tanks’ Kunaratnam, Network and Partnership Coordinator of Knowledge Services, roles and functions; re-evaluated their tools and channels by clustering them on behalf of the PEC programme. In-house Discussion China’s role in South Asia: SA countries need own ‘balancing’ act China is emerging as a ‘balancer’ in trade (import and export) between the context of the evolving China and South Asia in 2001 economic, strategic and geopolitical increased to USD 97 billion by 2011. scenario in South Asia vis-à-vis the In contrast to Indian FDI role played by the traditional flow directed at the US, EU, Middle superpowers on the one hand and East and East Asian countries, India on the other. driven by services sector, Chinese Through aid, trade and investment FDI has been increasingly directed in infrastructure and other forms of to SACs, particularly in developing influences, China is making in-roads the infrastructure. to South Asia in somewhat of a way Commenting on the study, CPD that Japan did in earlier years in East Chairman Professor Rehman Asia, mainly through FDI. Eminent Sri Lankan economist Dr Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute of Policy Sobhan observed that smaller SACs China’s ‘balancing act’ between Studies (IPS) with invited experts and CPD researchers would need to do their own diverse interests at play in South Asia was featured in a study by Dr Saman ‘balancing’ in various configurations between China, India and the US in order Kelegama, presented at CPD on 7 May 2014. Taking the case of to safeguard their own interests. Sri Lanka in a presentation on “China as a Balancer in South Asia: An The discussion was also complemented by observations from CPD Economic Perspective,” Dr Kelegama drew upon China’s growing trade Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and Executive Director partnership with most South Asian countries (SACs), its regional Professor Mustafizur Rahman; Dr Binayak Sen, Research Director, collaborations, growing trade with India, Chinese development aid flow to BIDS; Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad, Chairman, BIISS; Professor MM SACs, and Chinese labour in Sri Lanka. Akash of Dhaka University Department of Economics; Mr Iqbal Ahmed, According to Dr Kelegama, SACs have more complementarities with China Director (EA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CPD senior researchers and than India, which is demonstrated in trading patterns where USD 5.7 billion research associates.

Visits

Participants from the Royal College of Defence Studies, UK visited Korean Study Team under the Asia Development Fellowship of the Asia Foundation CPD on 7 June 2014 visited CPD on 22 May 2014

CPD Quarterly 8 April - June 2014 CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE (CPD) A CIVIL SOCIETY THINK TANK

Major Research Activities during April-June 2014 Independent Review of Bangladesh’s Development (IRBD): initiative seeks to encourage, capture and promote analytical inputs from the Third Reading global South in post-2015 deliberations to ensure that the post-2015 The report attempted to present CPD’s assessment of the emerging development agenda truly reflects universal priorities. The team members of economic scenario in Bangladesh. Four thematic areas have been taken up Bangladesh study are: Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, for closer scrutiny which include an analysis of allocational patterns, CPD and Chair, Southern Voice on Post-MDGs and Professor Mustafizur prioritisation and efficacy of public expenditure, an assessment of financing of Rahman, Executive Director, Mr Towfiqul Islam, Research Fellow, and Mr Md. the public expenditure, an evaluation of the evolving power sector scenario Zafar Sadique, Senior Research Associate, CPD. and an analysis of the export sector performance from the perspective of Financing and other means of implementation in the Post-2015 context: product composition and market destination. The report observes that Bangladesh Country Illustration reinvigorating the investment environment to regain the lost momentum of As part of the European Report on Development (ERD) 2014, this ongoing accelerated GDP growth has emerged as a major concern from the research examines the availability of resources during the post-2015. The perspective of macroeconomic management in FY2014 and in view of the outcome paper will examine the availability of finance from various sources, upcoming budget for FY2015. their relative importance in the economic transformation of Bangladesh. The As part of IRBD initiative, CPD also prepared a set of recommendations in study will also discuss types of transformation that the country has gone view of the then upcoming budget for FY2015 in June 2014. These were through since its independence, explore financial trends from public and presented at a press briefing in May 2014 and disseminated to the relevant private sources in a disaggregated manner and highlight how enablers of authorities of budget preparation including the Ministry of Finance. Following Bangladesh’s growth such as infrastructure and exports have been financed. the announcement of the national budget CPD analysed the budget proposals The paper will discuss the role of complementary policies both at the national of FY2015 made by the Finance Minister and presented at a media briefing. and global context in contributing to the economic transformation of the The budget analysis was also presented during a national dialogue and a country. The research is being undertaken by Dr Fahmida Khatun, local-level dialogue in Sylhet where a larger set of stakeholders participated. Research Director, CPD as part of multi-country research collaboration. Estimating Women’s Contribution to the Economy: Earlier on 19 February 2014, a Country Illustration Workshop for the ERD The Case of Bangladesh 2014 titled “Financing and other means of implementation in the Post-2015 CPD is implementing the study in collaboration with Manusher Jonno context” was organised in Dhaka by Southern Voice in association with CPD, Foundation (MJF) with an objective to facilitate policy advocacy based on Overseas Development Institute (ODI), German Development Policy Institute empirical results. Following a literature review and preparation of a (DIE), European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM). methodological framework, CPD is currently collecting information from Regional Investment Cooperation under the Proposed South Asia household-level survey, based on an in-depth questionnaire to solicit Economic Union information from both male and female household members. The survey Despite liberalisation of the FDI regime and undertaking initiatives for design was prepared using the BBS sampling frame; the master sample of the deepening trade integration, FDI flow in South Asia remain at low level. BBS’ Labour Force Survey 2013, prepared from the 2011 Population Census, Moreover FDI is concentrated to limited locations and share of intra-regional is also being used. A number of expert group meetings were held while investment is miniscule. In this backdrop, a further deepening of trade preparing the concept note and questionnaire design. Led by Dr Fahmida integration would not make significant changes in investment unless Khatun, Research Director, the study team comprises Mr Towfiqul Islam, well-structured strategies are identified. Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Research Fellow, and Ms Shahida Pervin, Research Associate, CPD. collaboration with a number of researchers specialised on regional issues Post-2015 Data Test: has undertaken a study on “Regional Investment Cooperation under the Unpacking the Data Revolution at the Country Level Proposed South Asia Economic Union”. The objective of the study is to The initiative is being implemented by CPD and the North-South Institute identify the bottlenecks for building investment cooperation between South (NSI), Canada in association with Southern Voice on Post-MDGs. CPD is Asian countries and to put forward suggestions for effective investment undertaking this study as part of a multi-country study including reports from cooperation within the region. The study is led by Dr Khondaker Golam Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Peru, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Moazzem, Additional Research Director, CPD with Ms Mehruna Islam Turkey. It intends to road test the post-2015 development agenda and identify Chowdhury, Senior Research Associate, and Ms Farzana Sehrin, Research data challenges for its implementation and measurement. The data test Associate, CPD.

Long-term needs of Rana Plaza victims (from page 5) The dialogue was also addressed by Dr Sultanuddin Ahmed, Assistant Executive Director, Editor, Prothom Alo; Mr Moshiur Rahman Hameeda Hossain, Former Chairperson, Ain o Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies; Mr Rafez Khandoker, Chief Executive, Safety Assistance Salish Kendra; Mr Md Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, Alam Chowdhury, President, Bangladesh for Emergencies; Ms Kamrun Nahar, Former President, BGMEA; Brigadier General Garments Accessories and Packaging Physiotherapist, Gonoshasthya Kendro; Mr Nayeem Olive, Adviser, Disaster Environment and Manufacturers and Exporters Association; Ms Towhidur Rahman, President, Bangladesh Climate Change, BRAC; Brigadier General Ali Shireen Haq, Member, Naripokkho; Mr Jafrul Poshak Shilpa Sramik Federation; Ms Nazma Ahmed Khan, psc, Director General, Department Hasan Sharif, Program Manager, Manuhser Akter, President, Shommilito Garments Sramik of Fire Service & Civil Defence; Mr Syed Jonno Foundation; Mr Abdul Quayum Mukul, Joint Federation, among others.

Visits

Snehal Soneji, Country Representative, Oxfam, Bangladesh and Michael McGrath, Officials from the Policy Analysis and Development Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Country Director, Save the Children visited CPD on 24 April 2014 Government of Indonesia visited CPD on 29 April 2014

CPD Quarterly 9 April - June 2014 CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE (CPD) A CIVIL SOCIETY THINK TANK

CPD Professionals at International Fora Meeting of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at the Rehman Sobhan, Chairman UN Headquarters, during 30 June-9 July 2014, in New York, USA.  Attended the Second Asia Think Tank Summit on Promoting Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration, co-hosted by Asian Development Mustafizur Rahman and Debapriya Bhattcharya  Bank Institute (ADBI) and University of Pennsylvania, during 21-22 May Participated at a Focus Session on “Locating South-South Cooperation 2014, in Tokyo, Japan. within Emerging Development Cooperation Architecture,” organised by Southern Voice on Post-MDGs, in association with CPD and National Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), at the First High-Level  Made a Presentation on “Bangladesh Country Study” at the Midterm Stock Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation Taking Workshop of Post-2015 Data Test: Country Level Experiences (GPEDC), on 15 April 2014, in Mexico City, Mexico. Initiative, organised by CPD, North South Institute (NSI), Southern Voice on Post-MDGs and Partnership for African Social and Governance Research Anisatul Fatema Yousuf, Director, Dialogue and Communication  (PASGR), during 28-30 April 2014, in Nairobi, Kenya. Attended a series of Meetings with the Communications Team of Institute of Development Studies (IDS) during 6-7 May 2014, in Brighton, UK.  Participated in the Inaugural Panel Discussion on “Envisioning South Asia” at the launch of the SARCist Initiative of Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Fahmida Khatun, Research Director supported by Asia Foundation, on 15 May 2014, in New Delhi, India.  Made a Presentation at the Session “Deconstructing South-South  Was a Panellist at a Session on “Four years of TTI: Integrating Learning Cooperation: A Southern Perspective on Experience and Challenge” at the within Organisations Reflecting on Achievements and Challenges,” at the Focus Session on “Locating South-South Cooperation within Emerging 4th TTI Regional Meeting Asia in the New World: Emerging Research Development Cooperation Architecture,” organised by Southern Voice on Themes, organised by Institute of Social and Environmental Transition Post-MDGs, in association with CPD and NCAER, at the First High-Level (ISET)-Nepal, during 9-10 June 2014, in Kathmandu, Nepal. Meeting of the GPEDC on 15 April 2014, in Mexico City, Mexico.   Was a Discussant on “China’s New Development and its Regional Made a Presentation on “Emerging Challenge and Agenda for South South Implications – China and Asia as Partners in Development” at the Cooperation for Enhancing Human Development” at the International International Conference China’s New Development: Common Visions for Symposium Human Development In Global South: Emerging Perspectives Asian – European Co-operation, organised by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in the Era of Post-Millennium Development Goals, organised by Institute for (FES) and Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU), Human Development (IHD) and Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA) in during 16-19 June 2014, in Tutzing, Germany. association with UNESCAP, during 28-29 April 2014, in New Delhi, India.  Made a Presentation on “Building Resilience to Nutrition Insecurity and Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow Weather Shocks” an International Conference Building Resilience for Food  Attended Midterm Stock Taking Workshop of Post-2015 Data Test: Country and Nutrition Security, organised by the International Food Policy Research Level Experiences Initiative, organised by CPD, NSI, Southern Voice on Institute (IFPRI), during 15-17 May 2014, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Post-MDGs and PASGR, during 28-30 April 2014, in Nairobi, Kenya.  Was a Panellist at a Session on “Organisational Adaptation in the Changing  Attended European Report on Development (ERD) 2014 Country Eco-systems” at 4th TTI Regional Meeting Asia in the New World: Illustration Workshop: Tanzania, organised by Economic and Social Emerging Research Themes, organised by ISET-Nepal, during 9-10 June Research Foundation (ESRF), on 9 May 2014, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 2014 in Kathmandu, Nepal.  Attended ERD 2014 Country Illustration Workshop: Moldova, organised by  Made a Presentation “Energy and Social Policies: Energy Subsidies in European Business Association, on 15 May 2014, in Chisinau, Moldova. Bangladesh” at Regional Dialogue on “What kind of energy for a socially  Made a Presentation on “Post-2015 International Development Agenda: just, resilient and green dynamic growth in Asia?” as part of FES Economy Issues Related to Means of Implementation” as an Invited Expert at the of Tomorrow (EoT) Project, during 23-24 June 2014, in Bali, Indonesia. Post-2015 Development Orientation and Briefing Programme IX, organised by United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), on 20 May Mr M Shafiqul Islam, Additional Director, Admin and Finance, Mr Uttam Kumar Paul, Deputy Director, Accounts and Mr Mohammad Shamimur 2014, in New York, USA. Rohman, Accounts Associate  Made a Presentation on “Post-2015 International Development Agenda:  Participated in a Peer Exchange Visit on Best Practices, Ways of Working, Other Means of Implementation” as an Invited Expert at the Post-2015 Systems and Structure of Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Development Orientation and Briefing Programme VII, organised by under TTI Matching Fund during 13-16 April 2014, in Islamabad, Pakistan. UNITAR, on 22 May 2014, in Geneva, Switzerland. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Additional Research Director  Was a Panellist at the Session “The global partnership to deliver post-2015:  Making it count” at the Conference on International Cooperation in the 21st Participated at the 28th Biannual Research and Training Workshop, Century: Partnerships for Delivering the Post-2015 Agenda, organised by organised by South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Chatham House, London in association with the Overseas Development Economics (SANDEE), during 16-20 June 2014, in Thimpu, Bhutan. Institute, the Korea International Cooperation Agency and with support from Md. Humayun Kabir, Deputy Director, Administration Rockefeller Foundation, during 27-28 May 2014, in London, UK.  Participated in a course on “Human Resource Management in an  Participated in ERD 2014 Part B Synthesis Workshop, at the Athens International Context,” organised by MDF Training & Consultancy, during University Faculty Club, during 2-3 June 2014, in Athens, Greece. 19-23 May 2014, in Hanoi, Vietnam.  Was a Discussant at a Policy Session on “International Development Ms Nazmatun Noor, Deputy Director, Dialogue and Outreach Research Centre: Think Tanks: Promoting Local Solutions, Influencing  Participated in an Exchange Visit, organised by CAFIU, during 9-18 April Regional And Global Thinking” at 17th World Congress of the International 2014, in Beijing, Fujian and Yunnan, China. Economic Association, during 7-12 June 2014, in Amman, Jordan. Towfiqul Islam Khan, Research Fellow  Played the role of a Provincial Leader to examine water security challenges  Attended the Steering Committee Meeting of Regional Research in South Asia, organised by CNA Corporation and Skoll Global Threats Programme Tax Policy and Enterprise Development in South Asia, Fund, during 25-26 June 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. coordinated by Governance Institutes Network International (GINI),  Was a Panellist at the Dialogue “From Rio+20 to Post-2015: Towards an Islamabad with support from International Development Research Centre Integrated and Universal Sustainable Development Agenda” at the Second (IDRC), on 30 May 2014, in Bangkok, Thailand. Visits

Stuart Davies, Economic Adviser, DFID Bangladesh visited CPD on 5 May 2014 Jamie Terzi, Country Director, CARE Bangladesh visited CPD on 21 April 2014

CPD Quarterly 10 April - June 2014 CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE (CPD) A CIVIL SOCIETY THINK TANK

CPD Professionals at National Fora Fahmida Khatun, Research Director Rehman Sobhan, Chairman  Was a Discussant at a Seminar on Sustainable Business Model for SME  Was a Discussant at re-launch of Shomaj Orthonity and Rashtra, organised Banking, organised by the SME Foundation, on 6 May 2014. by Shomaj Gobeshona Kendra (Social Research Centre), on 5 April 2014.  Delivered lectures on “World Trade Organisation and International Trade  Delivered a Lecture on “The Economy and Development: Road to Progress Alliance: Impacts on Bangladesh Economy and Way Forward,” for Bangladesh,” at National Defense College, Mirpur, on 16 April 2014. “Employment Dynamics of Bangladesh,” and “Women Entrepreneurship  Was a Discussant at the Launching Ceremony of International Law and Development in Bangladesh,” at National Defense College, Mirpur, Developing Countries: Essays in Honour of Kamal Hossain, organised by Dr respectively on 4, 26 May and 10 June 2014. Kamal Hossain and Associates, on 20 April 2014. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Additional Research Director  Was a Discussant at Launching Ceremony of Development Constraints and  Was a Discussant at a Dialogue on Remembering Rana Plaza Victims, Realisations: Essays in Memory of Mosharaff Hossain, organised by organised by ActionAid Bangladesh, on 20 April 2014. Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), on 30 April 2014.  Addressed a Discussion on Civil Aviation and Tourism, organised by the Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director Aviation and Tourism Journalists’ Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) and Tour  As a Panellist, presented “NAMA Issues: Development Implications for Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), on 16 May 2014. LDCs and low income countries in Asia” at a Regional Workshop on WTO  Was a Discussant at Budget for 2014-15: Will it Boost Growth and and Post-Bali Work Program for Asia, organised by South Asian Network on Investment, organised by Economic Reporters’ Forum, on 8 June 2014. Economic Modeling (SANEM) in collaboration with the Commonwealth,  Was a Discussant at a Roundtable on Macro Review of the RMG Sector, Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI), African EXIM Bank and Center organised by CARE Bangladesh, on 24 June 2014. for WTO Studies, New Delhi, during 5-6 May 2014, in Dhaka, Bangladesh.  As Keynote speaker, addressed a Roundtable on Inclusive Business in the  Was a Distinguished Guest Speaker at a Policy Dialogue with Stakeholders context of Bangladesh: Prospects and Challenges, orgnaised by Katalyst, on the World Development Report 2013, organised by The World Bank Ministry of Commerce, Swiss-contact and GIZ, on 29 June 2014. , Group and CAMPE on 5 May 2014.  Presented Keynote Paper at a Seminar on Export-Oriented Plastic Industry  Delivered a Lecture on “Economy of Tomorrow: Bangladesh Perspective,” of Bangladesh Challenges and Opportunities, organised by Bangladesh at Jagannath University Department of Economics, on 12 May 2014. Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Bangladesh Plastic Manufacturers  Was a Discussant at a Seminar on Reducing Vulnerability: The Export and Exporters Association (BPMEA), on 30 June 2014. Diversification Challenge in Bangladesh, organised by BRAC Institute of  Presented Keynote at a Roundtable on Poultry Industry-Media Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University and International Cooperation, organised by Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Growth Centre (IGC), on 26 May 2014. Committee (BPICC), on 9 July 2014. Rehman Sobhan and Mustafizur Rahman Towfiqul Islam Khan, Research Fellow  Attended a Pre-Budget Discussion with the Finance Minister on the National  Made a Presentation on “Transfer Pricing in the Context of Bangladesh,” at Budget 2014-2015, organised by Ministry of Finance, on 7 April 2014. a Seminar on Introduction to Transfer Pricing, organised by University of  Participated at Vision 2030: A Framework for Economic Policy Making and Liberal Arts Bangladesh, on 1 April 2014. Strategy Formulation in Pluralistic Democracy, co-organised by Bangladesh  Was a Designated Discussant at a Policy Roundtable Meeting on Unveiling Economists' Forum (BEF), BIDS, Policy Research Institute and Bangladesh Tax, Tackling Poverty: Some Policy Considerations, organised by Bank, during 21-22 June 2014. ActionAid Bangladesh, on 3 April 2014. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow  Attended a Seminar on Tax Power Campaign, organised by ActionAid  Was a Discussant at The Upcoming Budget: Promises and Challenges, Bangladesh, on 5 April 2014. organised by Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF), on 26 April 2014.  Attended an International Conference on Global Expert Meeting on  As Chief Guest, addressed a Seminar on Students’ Thoughts on National Migration in the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda, organised by Budget for FY2015, organised by Eastern University, on 15 June 2014. Government of Bangladesh, during 28-29 April 2014.  GgwWwR (2015) cieZ©x †UKmB Dbœqb  Was a Discussant at a Roundtable on Addressed a Panel Discussion on Budget 2014-2015, organised by BRAC jÿ¨gvÎv wba©vi‡Y wkï‡`i Ae¯’vb, University Economics Club (BUEC), on 17 June 2014. organised by Prothom Alo, on 8 June 2014.  Delivered a Presentation on “Addressing Inequality through National Rounaq Jahan, Distinguished Fellow ÒAv‡qvwRZ ivR‰bwZK HK¨ I Budget for FY2015” at a Seminar on Quest for an Inclusive Budget,  Presented a Keynote Paper at a Seminar on organised by Daily Ittefaq, Fortnightly Anannya and clickittefaq.com, on 10 Revew`wng~jK cÖkvmb `yb©xwZ `gb I cÖwZ‡iv‡ai cÖavb wbqvgK,Ó organised by `yb©xwZ `gb June 2014. Kwgkb (`y`K) on 1 April 2014.  Delivered a Lecture on “Political Parties in Bangladesh and Challenges of Khaleda Akhter, Senior Research Associate Democratisation,” at Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, on 19 April 2014.  Addressed a Discussion on National Budget 2014-15: Gender Sensitivity,  Presented a Paper on “Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment,” at organised by Steps Towards Development, on 8 June 2014. 40th Anniversary of Women for Women (WFW), on 27 April 2014. Mustafizur Rahman, Towfiqul Islam Khan and Khaleda Akhter evsjv‡`‡k MYZ‡š¿i cwiw¯’wZ: wKQz fvebv,  Was a Discussant at a Roundtable on  Were Trainers on Capacity Building on International Trade, arranged by organised by SHUJAN, on 12 June 2014. BFTI at Bangladesh Tariff Commission (BTC), during 22-26 June 2014.

CPD Publications (from page 12) Available at: www.inspired-democracy.eu/cases/ post-rana-plaza-  Jahan, R. 2014. We will be able to get over our temporary setbacks. The monitoring-civil-society-initiative-394 Daily Star, 26 April. ev¯Íem¤§Z ev‡R‡Ui Rb¨ PvB MwZkxj A_©bxwZ Newspaper and Magazine Articles  Bhattacharya, D. 2014. . Alokito evsjv‡`‡k we‡`wk mvnv‡h¨i f~wgKv  Khatun, F. 2014. . The Daily Ittefaq, 3 April. Bangladesh, 11 May.  ev‡R‡Ui ¸YMZ DrK‡l©i w`K gv_vq ivL‡Z n‡e  Khatun, F. 2014. Expectations from New Budget. The Daily Star, 4 June. Rahman, M. 2014. . Kaler Kantho, Gev‡ii ev‡RU: Kx PvB †Kb PvB  Khatun, F. 2014. . The Daily Ittefaq, 5 June. 27 May.  wewb‡qv‡M Av¯’vi msKU KvUv‡Z n‡e  Khatun, F. 2014. Implementation will be put to test: An Immediate Rahman, M. 2014. . Bangladesh Protidin, 3 June. Reaction to Budget for FY2015. The Daily Star, 6 June. . we‡klÁ‡`i civgk© †g‡b wKQz c`‡ÿc cybwe©‡ePbvi cÖ‡qvRb ivR¯^ Av`v‡qi jÿ¨ AR©b KwVb n‡e   Rahman, M. 2014. . Shokaler Khobor, 8 June. Moazzem, K.G. 2014 . ev‡RU cÖ¯Íve: gZvgZ I mycvwik Avg‡j wbb  Moazzem, K.G. 2014. . Samakal, 9 June. Kaler Kantho, 22 June. †`‡ki Dbœq‡b Zuvi Ae`vb ¯§iYxq  Rahman, M. 2014. . Bonik Barta, 28 June. Video Interview Newspaper Interviews  Rahman, M. 2014. One year of Rana Plaza tragedy. The Daily Star  Bhattacharya, D. 2014. Unrealistic policy inflates GDP. The Daily Online, 22 April. Observer, 18 April. Roundtable Discussion Supplementary ivbv cøvRv-cieZ©x D‡`¨v‡M mgš^qnxbZv i‡q‡Q  Rahman, M. 2014. . Shokaler Khobor,  Moazzem, K.G. 2014. Macro Review of the RMG Sector: Gains, 22 April. Challenges and Policy Responses. The Daily Star, 24 June.

CPD Quarterly 11 April - June 2014 CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE (CPD) A CIVIL SOCIETY THINK TANK

Dialogue on Political Parties and Democracy in Bangladesh Sustainable democracy requires intra-party democratic practice Democratic practices and emergence of political musclemen; participatory culture must be revived clientelism and illegitimate funding within the political parties in order to sources; rising inter and intra-party achieve transparent and stable feud; decay of ideals and erosion of democratic governance in intra-party democratic practices. Bangladesh. Chief Guest Mr Tofail Ahmed, MP, Good political leadership and Hon’ble Minister for Commerce democratised state institutions are of underscored that good political paramount importance to do away leadership must develop from the with the culture of confrontational grassroots-level and this requires politics, corruption and other participatory politics – a culture malfunctions prevailing since the (left) Rounaq Jahan, Badiul Alam Majumder, Moudud Ahmed, Tofail Ahmed, Rehman slowly perishing away. He also restoration of electoral democracy in Sobhan, Anisul Islam Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman and Imtiaz Ahmed emphasised that the scope for the 1990s. emerging youth leadership has been undermined in Bangladesh politics. The deliberations emanated from a dialogue on the study “Political Parties Echoing similar concerns, Special Guest Barrister Moudud Ahmed, and Democracy in Bangladesh,” authored by CPD Distinguished Fellow Member of National Standing Committee of BNP opined that Bangladesh’s Professor Rounaq Jahan, at BRAC Centre Inn on 17 May 2014. future largely hinges on devolution of power and the two major leaders’ In her keynote presentation, Dr Jahan drew upon the evolution of political political will to return to democratic values and practices. parties in Bangladesh and the challenges that impeded democratic practices Special Guest Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, MP, Hon’ble Minister for such as failure in establishing post-election democratic governance; the Water Resources pointed out that ensuring proportional representation with tradition of dynastic ruling and criminalisation of politics through the functioning democratic practices; holding secret ballot (Continued on page 4)

CPD Publications Southern Voice Occasional Paper Series CPD Output as Southern Voice on Post-MDG International Development Books Goals Secretariat CPD. 2014. Bangladesh Economy in FY2013-14: Third Series Editor: Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, CPD

Bangladesh Economy Interim Review of Macroeconomic Performance  in FY2013-14 Kwakye, J.K. 2014. Looking Beyond Aid to Fund Africa's Development. Third Interim Review of Macroeconomic Performance Dhaka: Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). Paper 7. Dhaka: Southern Voice on Post-MDGs.  Sabharwal, N.S. 2014. Understanding the Role of Social Exclusion in In view of the National Budget FY2015, the first chapter A report prepared under CPD's programme on Hunger: Analysis of MDGs for the Excluded Groups in India. Paper 8. Independent Review of Bangladesh's Development (IRBD) presents the third and final review of state of the Dhaka: Southern Voice on Post-MDGs. economy by CPD for the current fiscal year. The  Diyamett, B. and Mutambala, M. 2014. Is the Current Booming Growth in second chapter contains a set of proposals that CPD Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Africa Worth Celebrating? Some Evidence from Tanzania. Paper 9. prepared for the National Budget FY2015. June 2014 Dhaka: Southern Voice on Post-MDGs.  Khadka, S. and Dixit, A. 2014. The Changing Intersection of Society and Book Chapters Development Goals: An Examination Aimed at Improving Policymaking. Rahman, M. 2014. “Realising the Potential of Bangladesh Villages: Looking Paper 10. Dhaka: Southern Voice on Post-MDGs. Back at Mosharaff Hossain’s Assault that Failed in Development  Ali, S., Goyal, N. and Srinivasan, S. 2014. Sustainable Access for All: Constraints and Realisations.” In Essays in Memory of Mosharaff Hossain. Building Sustainability into Universal Energy Access. Paper 11. Dhaka: Dhaka: The University Press Limited (UPL). Southern Voice on Post-MDGs. Journal Articles  Tilakaratna, G. 2014. Social Protection and the MDGs in Sri Lanka:  Bairagi, S. and Azzam, A. 2014. “Does the Grameen Bank Exert Market Implications for the Post-2015 Agenda. Paper 12. Dhaka: Southern Voice Power over Borrowers?” Applied Economics Letters, DOI: on Post-MDGs. 10.1080/13504851.2014.894623.  Ghaus, K. and Sabir, M. 2014. Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers and  Pervin, S., Khan, M.A. and Shah, M.M.H. 2014. “Household-level Analysis Gender-Sensitive Education Financing. Paper 13. Dhaka: Southern Voice of Women’s Power Practice in Old Dhaka City, Bangladesh.” Journal of on Post-MDGs. Comparative Asian Development, 13(1):174-203.  Linares, L. and Prado, J. 2014. Measuring of Progress of Decent Work to DOI:10.1080/15339114.2014.899070. Support the MDGs and Post-MDGs. Paper 14. Dhaka: Southern Voice on Òevsjv‡`‡ki †cvkvK Lv‡Zi cÖwZ‡hvwMZv  Moazzem, K.G. and Sehrin, F. 2014. Post-MDGs. m¶gZv Ges mvgvwRK AMÖMwZi GKwU we‡kølYÓ. cÖwZwPšÍv: mgvR, A_©bxwZ I ivó« welqK  Das, S. 2014. Ensuring Good Governance and Effective Institutions: Can ˆÎgvwmK, 4 (2). April-June 2014. We Afford to Ignore Capacity Issues? Paper 15. Dhaka: Southern Voice  Moazzem, K.G. and Chowdhury, M.I. 2014. "Occupational Health and on Post-MDGs. Safety in the Export-oriented Garments Sector of Bangladesh” Sromik International Magazine Article [Worker] 16(1) Jan-Jun 2014 Issue. Bangladesh Institute of Labour  Rahman, M. 2014. Post-Bali: What does the Bali package mean for the Studies (BILS). LDCs? Bridges Africa, 3 (3). International Centre for Trade and Working Papers Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Geneva, April.   Bhattacharya, D., Monem, M. and Rezbana, U.S. Finance for Local Rahman, M. 2014. Bali Outcome of the WTO: Reflections from an LDC’s Government in Bangladesh: An Elusive Agenda. CPD-CMI Working Paper Perspective. Trade Insight 10 (1). Published by South Asia Watch on 6. Dhaka: CPD and Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI). Trade Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), Kathmandu.  Khatun, F. and Ahamad, M.G. FDI in the Energy and Power Sector and Blog Posts Economic Growth in Bangladesh. CPD-CMI Working Paper 7. Dhaka:  Rahman, M. 2014. India’s Market Access Offer: Realising Potential CPD and Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI). Opportunities. Opinions on SARCist. 15 May. Available at:  Moazzem, K.G., Chowdhury, M.I. and Raz, S. Bilateral Free Trade http://thesarcist.org/frmOpinion.aspx?ArticleID=17 Agreements (FTAs): Opportunities and Challenges for Bangladesh –  Rahman, M. 2014. Post-Rana Plaza Monitoring: A Civil Society Initiative. Framework Issues. CPD Working Paper 107. Dhaka: CPD. INSPIRED. 27 June. (Continued on page 11)

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CPD Quarterly 12 April - June 2014