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Bangladesh has urged the development partners to disclose details of the aid money expenditure for ensuring transparency, foreign ministry said on Thursday.
“During a video conference with the ambassadors of the European Union on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said, they should disclose publicly their spending so that tax-payers know where their tax money is being spent,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said.
The ambassadors informed the foreign minister that the EU would offer 334 million Euros to Bangladesh, of which 103 million will soon be channeled through the Economic Relations Division.
Foreign Minister thanked them for the support, and emphasised that it is important to ensure transparency and accountability of the aid activities carried out by the development partners, the spokesperson said.
Ambassadors of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the European Union Delegation in Dhaka took part in the conference.
In the meeting, Foreign Minister briefed the Ambassadors of the EU Member States about the steps taken by Bangladesh in addressing the challenges of COVID19.
On the issue of the concern of COVID19 being spread in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, Dr Momen assured the Ambassadors that the Government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that the pandemic is contained, and there is minimal spread of COVID19 in the Rohingya camps.
When the Ambassadors raised the issue of freedom of press, Foreign Minister said Bangladesh gives due importance to freedom of press and freedom of expression.
He said there are nearly 33 private TV networks, hundreds of dailies, and huge number online news agencies which many countries even in Europe don't have.
However, Dr Momen noted that freedom without responsibility may result in social chaos and indiscipline.
“For example, in the name of freedom of choice, no one is allowed to open assault rifle to kill people in a crowded Mall or at a public school, neither one is allowed to incite or provoke people with fabricated stories to lawlessness” the minister told the EU envoys.
He informed that the government always considers the freedom of press as an important tool for effective governance in a democratic society.
On the issue of cell phone network in the Rohingya camps, Dr Momen explained that the functionaries would be able to access the internet and 4G services from their offices and accommodations.
For security reasons; to stop drug trafficking, to stop trafficking of women and children, provoking people to create lawlessness and to stop Blue films, the government has to downgrade 4G services in the Camp area, the minister explained.
The minister argued that 2G service is enough for day to day communications. And Rohingyas cannot afford to buy the 4G cellphone sets which are 5 to 10 times more expensive.
The foreign minister assured that the government would always protect the Rohingyas who have taken shelter in Bangladesh.
In this regard, he stressed that providing shelter to Rohingyas was not the responsibility of Bangladesh alone.
He called upon the Ambassadors to share the burden of providing better life and living for persecuted Rohingyas in their own countries or relocate and settle them in third countries.
He said, though Myanmar agreed to take them back, not a single Rohingya was repatriated in the last three years.
He requested the EU to exert more pressure on Myanmar for Rohingyas’ safe repatriation to Myanmar.
Dr Momen reiterated that EU members are Bangladesh's long standing reliable development partners and if they have any issue, they are most welcome to share those with the government.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com