Government development policies serving MNCs
Environment and development activists yesterday alleged that the government was protecting multinational companies' (MNC) interest through anti-public policies and the reluctance to protect public interest was encouraging MNCs and some controversial economic bodies to act as “players” in determining the country's economic interests.
Although the government should promote agriculture-based development, it is ignoring the country's largest sector in terms of the part played in economic growth and creating employment, and putting importance on unplanned industrialisation which is leading to farmers losing their land, they added.
“Our government does not conduct any cost-benefit analysis before formulating any policy. So, they are damaging the agriculture to promote industrialisation,” said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, citing the government stance to promote genetically modified crops.
The chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) was addressing a seminar on the security of the rights of the masses to food, water and land at the Kendriya Kachi-Kachar Bhaban auditorium in the capital.
The Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), and Bangladesh Water Rights Forum jointly organised the seminar celebrating World Food Day, observed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on October 16.
AKM Masud Ali, executive director at INCIDIN Bangladesh; Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir, ALRD chief Shamsul Huda and Nagorik Uddyog chief Zakir Hossain also spoke.
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