Democracy and Governance in Bangladesh
The Development Challenge: Three U.S. national interests dominate U.S. relations with Bangladesh. The United States is interested in building a better functioning, more stable democracy that would support free and fair elections, respect human rights, and combat trafficking in persons. Secondly, the United States seeks continued economic prosperity to provide stability and hope for all Bangladeshis to stem the potential growth of extremism. Thirdly, the United States seeks to improve understanding between the two countries, which underscores the importance of USAID's development assistance program.
With economic growth rates averaging 5% for the past decade and noteworthy progress in agriculture, health, and education, Bangladesh is considered a well-performing transitional development country. A populous and important ally of the United States in the Islamic world, the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has increased its investments in education, health, food security, and other social services to reduce poverty by roughly 1% per year. The GOB seeks further improvement by 2015 to meet its Development Goals of the Millennium Declaration and hopes to be considered for eligibility for the U.S. Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). It has also responded with remarkable promptness to the threat of Tier III sanctions under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. At the same time, endemic corruption is the paramount problem impairing consolidation of democracy and crippling prospects for further economic prosperity for its population of approximately $140 million.
Nearly half of Bangladeshis live below the national poverty level of $1 per day. Natural disasters, including annual flooding, arsenic contamination, and seismic risk, compounded by substandard and unavailable public services, condemn millions of people to misery and misfortune. Regrettably, the deterioration of law and order, government ineffectiveness, and large-scale corruption reveal governance issues that could derail the country's fragile progress, thwart democratic development, and threaten stability. At the heart of the country's governance conundrum is the longstanding political impasse between the two major parties. More decisive steps on the road to a functioning democracy will be required to confront rampant corruption and clientelism, depoliticize political dialogue and policy decisions, cultivate constructive operations in the parliamentary and political parties, establish an independent judiciary and regulatory institutions, improve transparency and accountability, and decentralize decision making. Improved governance is both an imperative and a prerequisite for Bangladesh to progress and remain on course as a transitional development country considered for MCA.
The USAID Program: USAID is requesting funds for FY 2006 and 2007 based on its 2000 - 2007 Strategic Plan with the overarching development objective of poverty reduction through economic growth. USAID/Bangladesh concentrates on seven objectives including reducing fertility and improving family health; increasing growth of agribusiness and small business; improving management of open water and tropical forest resources; improving the performance of key institutions in the energy sector; improving food security for vulnerable groups and enhancing local disaster management capacity; promoting democracy and governance; and improving the quality of Bangladesh's basic education system. FY 2005 funds will implement the ongoing programs in health, small and medium enterprise and agribusiness development, water and forest resource management, energy, food security, democracy and governance, and basic education as described in the FY 2005 Congressional Budget Justification. A noteworthy change from previous years is that USAID plans to consolidate the bulk of the ESF resources under a strengthened and evolving effort to confront governance challenges and contribute to the fight against corruption. It is particularly important to safeguard democratic development in the lead up to the 2006/2007 parliamentary elections and to focus on economic opportunities outside of the Ready-Made Garment sector. As this new assistance evolves, it may require changes in other program areas. Such changes will be planned and approved in cooperation with USAID/W and the State Department and notified to the Congress.
Much of USAID assistance is directed through private and non-government entities, as these tend to be more responsive, effective, and efficient than government bodies. At the same time, USAID has increased cooperation with the GOB and this year expects to sign another Strategic Objective Agreement, bringing the number of such agreements to five. While the Mission reexamines its strategic priorities, it will actively seek new ways to work more closely with the government and to strengthen local institutions. Meanwhile, USAID/Bangladesh has already embarked on what many see as a model outreach approach. USAID proactively identifies diverse opportunities to engage current and future opinion leaders on key development issues while demonstrating U.S. commitment and effectiveness in addressing these challenges. By exposing influential Bangladeshis to its development activities throughout the country, the ways that U.S. assistance makes a difference in the lives of ordinary Bangladeshis is becoming known, recognized and appreciated. Some examples include reaching out to imams through our anti-trafficking program, engaging university law students in discussions on constitutional law and fostering their enthusiasm to share civics lessons with younger students, and introducing journalists to USAID program beneficiaries.
(Excerpted from the 2006 Congressional Budget Justification for Bangladesh)
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