Bangladesh Study Tour: Family Planning, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and International Development 12th – 20th September 2019 UK APPG on PDRH delegation with Robert Chatterton Dickson, British High Commissioner and Sheikh Hasina, Honourable Prime Minister, Bangladesh Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction to the Bangladesh study tour and study tour delegation ............................................................ 6 Background information to the Bangladesh study tour .................................................................................. 12 Background at-a-glance and pre-departure briefing meetings .................................................................. 12 Study tour programme and findings ............................................................................................................... 20 Friday 12th September 2019 ........................................................................................................................ 20 Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe Cricket Match, Dhaka ..................................................................................... 20 Saturday 13th September 2019 .................................................................................................................... 21 UNFPA Briefing Meeting, Westin Hotel, Dhaka ...................................................................................... 21 DFID Courtesy Meeting, Westin Hotel, Dhaka ........................................................................................ 23 Bangabandhu Museum, Dhaka ............................................................................................................... 23 BRAC Maternity Centre, Korail, Gulshan, Dhaka ..................................................................................... 24 UN Security Briefing Meeting, Westin Hotel, Dhaka ............................................................................... 27 SRHR Stakeholder Meeting, Westin Hotel, Dhaka .................................................................................. 27 Sunday 14th September 2019 ...................................................................................................................... 31 Dhaka Nursing College, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka ........................................................... 31 Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka .................................................................................................. 36 Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs meeting, Dhaka ......................................................................... 43 Marie Stopes Bangladesh Maternity/SHRH clinic, Mirpur Balur Math, Dhaka ....................................... 44 Director General of Family Planning, Dhaka ........................................................................................... 46 Bangladesh Minister of State Dinner, State Guest House, Dhaka .......................................................... 53 Monday 15th September 2019 .................................................................................................................... 54 Office of the Refugee and Relief & Repatriation Commissioner, Cox’s Bazar ........................................ 54 Lambasia Women Friendly Space and Camp 4, OO Zone SRH clinic, Cox’s Bazar .................................. 55 HOPE Field Hospital, Cox’s Bazar ............................................................................................................. 60 Tuesday 16th September 2019..................................................................................................................... 61 Government Sub-District Hospital, Ramu ............................................................................................... 61 Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Gender-Based Violence Stakeholder meeting, Sayeman Hotel, Cox’s Bazar .................................................................................................................... 66 Wednesday 17th September 2019 ............................................................................................................... 69 Adhunik Poshak Shilpo Ltd Factory, Kalshi, Dhaka .................................................................................. 69 DFID Meeting, British High Commission, Dhaka ..................................................................................... 71 British High Commission Reception with Bangladesh officials, Dhaka ................................................... 74 Thursday 18th September 2019 ................................................................................................................... 75 Meeting with the Honourable Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister’s Residence, Dhaka ..... 75 Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament, and Bangladesh MPs ................... 78 Summary highlights and comments ................................................................................................................ 81 Conclusion and acknowledgments .................................................................................................................. 85 2 Executive Summary The UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health (APPG on PDRH) organised a study tour to Bangladesh from the 12th to 20th of September 2019 for a cross-party UK parliamentary delegation. The delegation included: Baroness Jenny Tonge (non-affiliated), Baroness Jenkin (Conservative), Baroness Blackstone (Labour), Baroness Uddin (non-affiliated), Baroness Hodgson (Conservative), Liz McInnes MP (Labour), John Mann MP (Labour), Steve McCabe MP (Labour), Nic Dakin MP (Labour) and Tommy Sheppard MP (SNP). APPG on PDRH study tour delegation with UNFPA staff The study tour was co-hosted with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with the aim of strengthening UK parliamentarians’ knowledge about family planning (FP) and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and to enhance the membership of the APPG on PDRH. Prior to departure, the delegation was briefed in the UK parliament by representatives from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for International Development (DFID), UNFPA, Marie Stopes International (MSI) and the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC). Whilst visiting Bangladesh, delegates were briefed and met with Sheikh Hasina, the Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh; Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament, Members of the Bangladesh Parliament, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister and Minister of State and staff; the Director General of Family Planning in Bangladesh and his team of advisors, UNFPA country representative and staff, the UN Security Officer, the British High Commissioner and FCO/DFID staff; and National and International NGO SRHR/GBV stakeholders working in Bangladesh, International Labour Organisation staff and factory directors and workers. Delegates also met with directors and national and international health workers at government and NGO hospitals, training institutions and clinics and in Cox’s Bazar the delegation met and spoke with the Refugee Relief & Repatriation Commissioner, refugee camp staff and Rohingya refugees via interpreters. Tommy Sheppard MP, Nic Dakin MP and John Mann MP with UNFPA staff, Cox’s Bazar 3 Study tour delegates were exposed to an array of FP and SRHR services and training institutions in Bangladesh, delivered by the Bangladesh government, national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the United Nations and the independent sector. APPG on PDRH study tour delegation with Brigadier General A. K. M. Nasir Uddin, Dhaka Medical College Hospital With their hosts, delegates discussed FP, menstrual regulation, safe abortion services, obstetric fistula, cervical cancer, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and vaccinations, and gender-based violence including child marriage. They also discussed services for young and vulnerable populations, including in refugee settings, as well as general maternal and child healthcare, the training of skilled birth attendants/midwives and international development and its links to social and economic development and environmental protection. Study tour delegates with midwifery students, Dhaka Nursing College Study tour delegates agreed that the exposure to a wide variety of FP and SRHR and GBV services in different settings had enhanced their knowledge of the context, people’s needs and challenges facing the Bangladesh Government. As a result, they were energised and inspired to advocate for policies and funding that ensure universal access to contraceptives and SRHR services to improve the lives of women and girls, and lead to economic growth and better welfare. 4 Study tour delegates visiting the nursery, Adhunik Poshak Shilpo Ltd factory, Kalshi, Dhaka The UK parliamentary study tour delegation wants to thank the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) for their financial support and UNFPA for their collaboration and generous support on the Bangladesh study tour, as well as Ann Mette Kjaerby, Parliamentary and Policy Advisor APPG on PDRH, for her advice and organisational skills. 5 Introduction to the Bangladesh study tour and study tour delegation The UK All Party Parliamentary