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Donors' interference in politics unwanted

Saifur comments before flying to Paris

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman yesterday said he will raise objections to the World Bank about the recent donor meeting in Washington, which he termed an interference by the donors into the political affairs of a sovereign nation.
Before leaving for Paris to join a donors' conference, Saifur said he will try to register his protest with Praful Patel, chief of the World Bank's South Asia region, who was present at the two-day Washington meet that concluded last week without Bangladesh's participation. The meeting, organised by the World Bank (WB), the European
Union and the US government, expressed concerns about the country's deteriorating law and order situation, the rise of militants, weak governance and other noneconomic issues.
The minister criticised the meeting for deliberating on issues outside its normal scope. "Donors should not interfere with how the internal political management of a country operates. On one side they talk about democracy and on the other they will interfere with the politicsthis is not desirable," Saifur told journalists at the Zia International Airport yesterday morning.
"The donors should limit their advice to economic management," he quipped.
"How could they hold a meeting on Bangladesh without our participation? I will ask this question to Patel," Saifur pointed out, adding, "I will also tell them that we are not obligated to the donors. Our obligation to them is relevant only to the level loans they have given us."
"Bangladesh is a democratic country. The people have elected the government. How the government will run is decided by the parliament, which represents the people," he noted.
On the question of Bangladesh's cancellation of the annual development forum meeting with the donors, Saifur said, "We had decided to hold this meeting every alternate year following a discussion with the World Bank."
The forum, which last met 10 months ago, no longer promises financial allegations, Saifur noted, but merely discusses the government's commitments.
"We have made a lot of promises in the last meeting which can not be fulfilled in just 10 months. This needs time. That is why we decided for a biennial meeting instead of annual one," Saifur quipped.
Saifur will participate in a WB seminar on integrating global initiatives into coherent country programmes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sources said that Saifur will also meet European Union ministers and leaders in London and Paris to create a positive impression on Bangladesh.