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A
Brief Report on SUPRO’s Countrywide Campaign
on People’s Participation in the ‘National
Strategy for Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction’
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Introduction:
Why the PRSP Campaign?
Before 1999, Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
had to implement Structural Adjustment Programs
(SAP) to receive loan facilities under the Enhanced
Structural Adjustment Facilities (ESAF). In 1999,
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) started
Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) instead
of ESAF program. As apart of that process, simultaneously
PRSP was also started. Under the PRGF program
the HIPCs have to prepare a PRSP to get loan facility
from the IMF or World Bank (WB). PRSP is a program
to reduce poverty according to the prescribed
forms of the IMF and WB. 
According to PRSP, the IMF and WB will decide
on sanctioning loans and other development initiatives.
Since the Bangladesh government has published
the National Strategy for Economic Growth and
Poverty Reduction as a public document for open
discussion, SUPRO has taken the opportunity to
generate public opinion. Moreover SUPRO wants
to disclose the authoritarian characteristics
of Bretonwood institutions that are primarily
responsible for poverty reproduction in underdeveloped
countries.
Objectives:
SUPRO decided to run this campaign with following
objectives:
>> Decentralize PRSP knowledge, and debate
as much as possible near or at the grassroots
and to the level of poor people
>> Bring up the voices of the poor or from
near the grassroots on issues up to the national
level
>> Sensitize political leaders at the district
level, leaders of local NGOs, Members of Parliament
and the press (specially at district level) on
the issue and motivate them to raise their critical
voice
>> Disclose the anti-poor role of the World
Bank and IMF
Programs:
i. Bangla Translation of PRSP 
ii. Orientation courses for district level facilitators
and members of SUPRO national committee with the
view to organizing campaigns at a district level.
iii. 42 district seminars, press conferences were
organized on this with the announcement of 42
district declarations, copies of which were simultaneously
sent to the Finance Minister, World Bank and IMF.
iv. Declaring the draft position paper through
a press conference.
v. Sensitizing the media and politicians through
meeting with editors through meeting and bilateral
discussions.
vi. Finally a national convention was held with
the participation of representatives from 42 districts,
national civil society, political & NGO leaders.
Dr. Kamal Hossain, one of the authors of Bangladesh’s
constitution also participated in the meeting.
Position of SUPRO on PRSP:
Lack of Transparency
• A selected number of people who do not
represent the mass population participated in
this process.
• An open discussion in parliament was required
• A Bangla version of the PRSP document
is needed for mass
• The World Bank and IMF cannot impose PRSP
as a condition as they will not bear the negative
impact resulting from its implementation. PRSP
is an extended process of Structural Adjustment
Program (SAP).
SUPRO strongly believes that the following
issues should be included in PRSP document to
reduce poverty:
1. Distributive land reform and modernization
of land administration.
2. An ICT policy based on the principle of technology
as a right and not a privilege.
3. A specific guideline for communication and
transport.
4. A disaster mitigation strategy, including contingency
plans directed at providing aid to specific vulnerable
groups such as women and children.
5. Transformation of production and distribution
systems of labor to reduce economic and social
discrimination.
6. Clear outline of the roles and functions of
the Anti Corruption Commission.
7. An accountable, transparent and participatory
management system to ensure a peaceful law and
order situation.
8. Clarification of the strengthening and decentralization
of local government to ensure that poor people's
voices can influence local level policies.
9. People's access to proper quality of education
and health.
10. Mention of women empowerment issues in the
form of budgetary allocations, including strategies
for enhancement of women’s participation
in the political process.
11. Regional dimensions of poverty should be addressed
through a detailed guideline on the region-wise
development strategy.
Media Coverage
SUPRO activities have been covered extensively
by the electronic and printed media, in separate
reports, features and photo features on SUPRO
and issues raised by the campaign.
Is PRSP an Illusive Agenda?
SUPRO believes that the PRSP document has been
framed to legitimize business as usual. Even if
it contained people’s demands in words and
statements, they are unlikely to be implemented
by the existing elite leadership since they do
not have a pro-people orientation or commitment.
As the WB and IMF have already pledged a package
loan to the government, SUPRO believes the basic
strategy should be to create demand for political
reformation and facilitating the emergence of
a critical mass. And these strategic interventions
will create the ground on which a people-centered
political force can evolve.
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SUPRO
( Campaign
for Good Governance )
House 13/3, Road 2, Shamoli, Dhaka-1207.
Phone (PABX): +880-2-812 5181, 815 4673, +880174 014
203
Fax: +880-2-912 9395, Email:
info@supro.org
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