& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Democracy means more than a poll

Says UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Haoliang Xu

Staff Correspondent
Democracy does not mean only elections but what happens afterwards and how accountably the system functions, UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Haoliang Xu said yesterday.
"There is a need to improve governance and institutions, especially the local government-how they can play a constructive role and promote development at local levels,” he told a press conference at the capital's Sonargaon Hotel, wrappingup a five-day visit to Bangladesh.
During his stay, Xu visited various UNDP projects, including those at Korail slum in Dhaka, Dacope in Khulna, and Chittagong Hill Tracts.
He also met the finance and foreign ministers, government high officials and development experts in Dhaka to gather experience on Bangladesh's development priorities.
While commending Bangladesh's achievements in cutting maternal and infant mortality and significant improvement in primary school enrolment, Xu said the UN encouraged a more inclusive, accountable and responsive system of governance to development.
"It is for the interest of the people, empowerment of the poor and marginalised," said Xu, an expert on economic
FROM PAGE 3
development and policy analysis.
The official said a UNDP project had contributed to the reduction of urban poverty in seven major cities and towns of Bangladesh from 42 percent to 29 percent.
About how the massive rural-urban migration could be reduced, he said, "You need to develop the areas where they come from. Try to create economic opportunities there."
He also stressed the need for taking care of the urban poor. There are several million people living in the urban slums, and their
health, education and sanitation issues must be addressed, Xi said.
Speaking about the development challenges, he said Bangladesh needed increased investments in power and infrastructure and improvement in health and education. "Success is already in your hand. How do you scale it up is a question."
Referring to his visit to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Xu said he was encouraged to see the development and peace building activities taking place there, but emphasised that Bangladesh move forward for the full implementation of the CHT Peace Accord.