'Approach MDGs from country's perspective'

They said the people of the country have self-confidence and immense mental strength and if they get some sort of support, they can contribute a lot to the development process.

Democracywatch organised the roundtable on 'MDG: Bangladesh Status and Way Forward' in association with the Centre for Sustainable Development at a city hotel. The British High Commi ssion supported the initiative.

Eminent economist Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said, "We have to approach the MDGs from the country's perspective and empower people to take ownership of these goals."

"The policy imposed by the donors will not be helpful to achieve the MDGs. Rather, we have to formulate sustainable and suitable development policy with our own efforts, which will protect the people's interest," he added.

Ataus Samad, advisory editor of the Amar Desh, said political will and sincerity and transparency among the politicians are the key to achieving the MDGs.

Quoting Kazi Mesbahuddin Ahmed, a member of the Planning Commission, he said about 30 percent of the countrymen cannot afford more than one meal a day. If such is the situation, it will be very difficult to attain the goals, he added.

Columnist ABM Musa said the country would attain development if the politicians take initiative in this regard instead of only delivering speech.

He also urged the media persons to raise awareness among general people about MDGs and put pressure on the policymakers to realise the goals.

To allow the media to take initiative in this regard, the government should change its mindset as it has a tendency towards refusing to provide or accept the fact, said Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, executive editor of the Sangbad.

He also noted that the media have already put the MDG issue on their policy agenda.

Joint Editor of the Prothom Alo Abdul Qaiyum said the government should provide dependable data to the media and fix the target of achieving the goals.

Prof AK Enamul Haque of East West University presented a keynote paper on 'Bangladesh status on MDGs'.

Editor of the Bhorer Kagoj Shaymol Datta, Editor of the Jai Jai Din Shafiq Rehman, Editor of The New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Foreign Editor of BSS Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Executive Director of Democracy watch Taleya Rehman, Secretary General of the Centre for Sustainable Development Mahfuz Ullah, Director General of PIB Dr Rezwan Siddique, Jai Jai Din City Editor Aminul Islam and Managing Director of The Bangladesh Today Julfia Asad also spoke.

Muhammad Jahangir, executive director of Centre for Development Communication (CDC), moderated the roundtable.