Donors will meet here for a two-day mid-term review of the country's development agenda on September 13 with a grave concern over the worsening governance and law and order.

The deteriorating law and order has also made the donors worried about the smooth functioning of both development projects and private investments.

According to an official of one donor country, the development partners are very frustrated about the governance situation as there had been no improvement in public administration.

Out of 22 reform proposals sent to the Cabinet by the Public Administration Reform Commission. only three have been accepted and Only one minor proposal implemented.

The review meeting will discuss the direct and indirect impacts of slum eviction on a

number of areas including children's education, HIV and micro credit programmes.

On the other hand, there will be discussions on the current macro-economic situation, and the donors are finding that Bangladesh represents a "low base case" in this regard.

The slow export and industrial growth now reflects on a basic characteristics of the economy - lack of competitiveness in the global economy, donors say.

The increase in fiscal deficit and the ambitious non-tax revenue target for this fiscal will also figure in the meeting and IMF may suggest for additional measures In this respect.

They will suggest for a close watch on the country's external position although there is no immediate crisis looming.

Meanwhile, the local consultative group of the development partners met here Tuesday to

decide on the agenda for discussion in the mid-term review.

According to sources, some donor officials are likely to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina separately to discuss the eviction issue.

The review meeting is a follow-up of the aid consortium meet held in Paris in April this year. The Tuesday's meeting also observed that there had been very little progress in var ious areas since the last annual meeting in Paris.

The review meeting will also want to know the result of a national assessment for Educa tion for All by 2000.

They will also call for a thorough assessment of the ar senic problem, its magnitude and measures needed to tackle the tmpendtog dtswaiii. '

The donors will also call for transparency in spending, and the defence expenditure may also come up in this discussion.