[Bangladesh] Japan identifies 12 sectors to help reduce poverty

from The Daily Star

'Political feud a major destabilising factor'
UNB, Dhaka

Japan has identified 12 priority sectors, including private sector and power sector development, under its new country assistance programme to help reduce poverty in Bangladesh.

Japan, the single largest bilateral donor of Bangladesh, reaffirmed its support on the "recent high economic growth" in Bangladesh despite political and governance challenges that hinder the growth potentials.

"Its new assistance programme reaffirms that Japan will continuously support Bangladesh's self-help efforts in development in accordance with the PRSP issued by the Bangladesh government in October last," said a statement on Thursday.

The statement was issued marking the release of Japan's new Country Assistance Programme (CAP) issued on May 19.

Other priority sectors are information and communication technology (ICT), tourism, transport, agriculture and rural development, education, health, environment, arsenic mitigation, disaster management and governance.

The new CAP puts three priority goals -- economic growth, social development with human security and governance -- with the ultimate target of poverty reduction.

"Japan believes that the implementation of PRSP will bring to Bangladesh the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)," the statement said, adding that the CAP also highlights the importance of cooperation with other development partners like the World Bank, ADB and DFID.

According to the CAP document made available yesterday, problems of governance, such as discontinuity in government policies, persisting corruption and worsening law and order, have become serious under a bipolar political confrontation.

"As a result, Bangladesh cannot maximise its potential for development and economic growth," it said, referring to the setbacks caused by recurrence of hartal, which are carried out by the opposition parties as part of their anti-government campaign.

"Hartals not only directly hit the lives of common citizens, especially those who live under the poverty line, but they also serve as an obstacle to investment and education," it said.

The document adds: "The continuing confrontation between the two main political parties even after three peaceful regime changes since 1991 is a major destabilising factor for people's livelihood and social stability in Bangladesh."

On the governance problem, the document pointed out that dealing with various issues of governance remained a great challenge in realising development, including economic growth and improvements in social indicators.