Pilfering keeps goals unattained

Funds allocated for the government's poverty alleviation programmes are pilfered at different levels before they reach marginal groups for which these people always remain financially insolvent, said former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor Khondker Ibrahim Khaled yesterday.

A good GDP growth cannot be an indicator of poverty reduction as, though the development trickles down, the drips never reach those who are cash-strapped, he said.

Khondker was addressing a press conference in the capital's Jatiya Press Club where representatives of over 80 non-government organisations announced holding “The 1st National Char Convention 2015”, aiming to draw policymakers' attention in alleviating poverty of people living in shoals or chars.

With the slogan “Let the Light of Development be Spread All Over the Char”, the convention will be held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh on June 6.

The government takes up initiatives only when people's plights are highlighted in the media, Khaled reasoned for organising the convention.

The noted economist informed that there was no specific budgetary allocation for char people while that allotted for unions does not reach chars.

The convention Coordinator M Anwar Hossain read out a paper pointing out some demands including incorporating char development issues in national development plans and keeping the specific budgetary allocation.

Oxfam Bangladesh Country Director Snehal V Soneji, Chars Livelihoods Programme Team Leader Matthew Pritchard, Concern Worldwide Country Director AKM Musa, information technology expert Mustafa Jabbar and Care Bangladesh Director Anwarul Haque were present.