Good governance, accountability crucial: speakers

Speakers at a seminar yesterday underscored the need of ensuring good governance and accountability while implementing the Delta Plan 2100.

The seminar, styled "Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 Implementation: Role of Media", was organised by the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) in its conference room.

Mentioning corruption and lack of good governance as a global problem, Md Monirul Islam, joint secretary (SDG Affairs) of the PMO, said, "If we could ensure good governance and eliminate corruption, the Delta Plan 2100 would be implemented properly and it would be sustainable."

"If we could ensure good governance and eliminate corruption, the Delta Plan 2100 would be implemented properly and it would be sustainable."

Monirul said good governance is essential for the development of any country.

"The Gross Domestic Product could be raised by 1.5 percent if good governance is ensured," he added.

Expressing concern over the condition of rivers across the country, NIMC Director General Faizul Haque said the number of rivers in Bangladesh has decreased drastically over the years. There used to be 1,100 rivers in the country, now only half of that remains.

He called upon the media to extensively expose corruption and irregularities in development projects, stating that journalists are the people who can unmask such wrongdoings before the people.

Earlier in the conference, Monirul presented a keynote paper titled "Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, visions, goals, and implementation strategies: Role of Media".

Other speakers at the conference included NIMC Deputy Director Tania Khan, Director Md Maruf Nawaz (training), and Md Taibur Rahman, director of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division at the Planning Commission.