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Stop
Neo Liberalism, We Want Justice in Economics
NO to Privatization
of Public Services & Natural Resources
NO to Supachai &
Pascal Lamy
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A brief report on the campaign against Neo Liberalism
on the eve of Dhaka International Trade Conference,
2004
Campaign Background
The leading role played by Bangladesh for LDCs
at the Cancun Ministerial Conference is commendable
but still open for scrutiny. The country-specific
issues and demands raised by Bangladesh are also
being debated. After the collapse of multilateral
negotiations at Cancun, the powerful developed
countries are  pressurizing
the poor countries, including Bangladesh, bilaterally.
Poor countries are taking loans as per PRSP under
the conditions of liberalization imposed by the
WB and IMF, e.g. opening up the foreign exchange
market, withdrawal of LC margin from import etc.
But it is questionable how these conditional loans
will help the ordinary people.
Meanwhile, the government has also initiated free
trade agreements with Bangladesh’s neighboring
countries. There is continuous pressure for gas
export. There is a dire need to analyze how these
issues will work for the interests of the poor.
An international trade conference is going to
be held in Bangladesh very shortly, where the
EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, a main proponent
of liberalization, and the director general of
WTO, Mr. Supachai, will participate. 
We expect that in this conference they will praise
the liberalization process in Bangladesh. It is
our responsibility, those who are for trade justice
and against free trade, to reveal the danger of
liberalization to the people and counter liberalization
initiatives. We believe that this campaign will
help our politicians take a pro-poor stand and
facilitate the global movement for trade justice.
SUPRO organized protest programs under this campaign
in parallel with the Dhaka International Trade
Conference held on 17-19 January 2004. SUPRO declared
the campaign as a complaint against Pascal Lamy,
whose deadly argument on the Singapore issue was
responsible for the ill ending of the Cancun Conference.
A round table was held on 12 January 2004 at CIRDAP
Auditorium; a street demonstration on 18 January
2004 at Muktangon, Dhaka, and finally a press
conference was called on 19 January 2004 at National
Press Club Lounge to counter the dialogues of
Trade Conference. The programs were supported
by ActionAid Bangladesh.
Round Table, 12 January 2004, 3-5 pm,
CIRDAP Auditorium, Topkhana Road, Dhaka.
The major demands raised by the participants in
the meeting to call to attention of the policymakers
are as follows:
- Develop a national consensus with  relation
to international trade,
- Ensure transparency of all agreements by discussing
in the national parliament,
- Strengthen and maintain equilibrium in the regional
trade alliances,
- Make a productive plan for the resurrection
of the jute sector,
- Ensure benefits from the export trades for the
labor population,
- Assist indigenous industries by disseminating
productive planning and principles,
- Take necessary steps for development of human
resources,
- Create a national commission in relation to
WTO etc.
Protest Rally & Street Demonstration,
18 January 2004, 2-5 pm
Muktangon, Dhaka.
SUPRO arranged a street demonstration and protest
rally at Muktangon in Dhaka on 18 January. The
main slogans were:
NO to Supachai & Pascal Lamy
NO to Privatization of Public Services
& Natural Resources.
The speakers condemned the European Trade Commissioner
Mr. Pascal Lamy for his anti-LDC role. Rezaul
Karim Chowdhury said in his speech that Mr. Lamy
has forced Bangladesh, in the mean time, to open
the drinking water sector in favor of European
multinational companies. He also mentioned that
Mr. Lamy had compelled Bangladesh to sign in UPOV,
a patent rights agreement, by threatening cancellation
of European aid.
Press Conference, 19 January 2004, 3-5
pm, National Press Club Lounge, Topkhana Road,
Dhaka.
A press conference was arranged to encounter the
speeches of International Trade Conference. Dr.
Moinul Islam, the former President of Bangladesh
Economic Association and the Professor of Department
of Economics of the University of Chittagong spoke
there as the chief guest. The conference was presided
by the Member Secretary of SUPRO Mr. Rezaul Karim
Chowdhury.
Dr. Moinul said Bangladesh had betrayed the 49
LDC in Cancun and favored EU & USA. So 28
of them joined to the Group 92 leaving Bangladesh
alone. Bangladesh raised their demands for access
of labor to the international market not considering
the ‘agricultural subsidy’ which was
the principal demand of LDCs and that was not
congruent with the LDCs’ interests.
Dr. Moinul told in the conference, the Mr. Lamys
preferred and used Bangladesh as a springboard
to restart the ill ended Cancun conference while
the anti globalization World Social Forum is running
in India. He proposed human resource development
and education as the safeguard against globalization.
He gave examples of India, China and Sri Lanka
saying they had developed their human resources
through proper education.
SUPRO said in their printed statement that renowned
progressive economists of Bangladesh had joined
with this campaign. The researched and conclusive
information from them will guide people to take
position against the neo liberalization of the
economy. SUPRO said that they want to assist in
policy making through building awareness of people.
We should find the solutions using our local resources.
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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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