Dirty facts

Bangladesh Angry With Donors

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman in a recent development, have blasted bilateral donors, aid agencies and foreign nations for ‘interfering with the internal politics of Bangladesh’.

Prime Minster Khaleda Zia in her speech in Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) warned donors on March 15 saying, “I want to tell them firmly that we won't put up with such interference. We don't care for anyone's browbeating and dictation. I want to tell the foreigners categorically that Bangladesh will not be run by any dictates or orders of any foreign force.”

“We have parliament and laws to govern the country, and there's no necessity of any one dictating us. We' have won our independence through a bloody war and sacrificed lives for our mother tongue, and these sacrifices won't move at any body's frown or dictates,” said the Prime Minster amid loud desk thumping by treasury bench deputies.

Finance minister’s position

Meanwhile, Planning and Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman also asked the donors to leave the country if the development partners could not adjust to the socio-economic policy of the country. “They will have to align with our policy and it is not for me to align with their own policy,” said the minister while talking to economic reporters of different dailies on March 16, a day after the Prime Minister’s speech.

“We are not interested in running any such programmes in the country if the development partners do not align with our social, fiscal and monetary policies,” said the minister.

In the press meet he also said UNDP has no right to poke their noses into the domestic political affairs. He said he had already talked to the concerned officials of UNDP and told them that making recommendations on political or economical reform is none of their business.

“Donors must understand that the development programmes of our country are owned by us, not by them and we will decide how we will implement them,” said Rahman.

A study, conducted by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which was released last week reveals that hartals (general strikes) eat up 3 to 4 per cent of the GDP of Bangladesh every year.

Tougher action

Government is not only using hard words against the donors, it also plans, according to a top level source, to ask two European countries to withdraw their ambassadors from Dhaka as “their activities are negatively impacting Bangladesh’s good relations with the countries.”

“‘We do not prefer to declare the diplomats persona non grata as such declaration would have adverse impact on our relationships,” sources said. The government is also not very happy as the foreign diplomats are meeting political leaders and addressing the press afterwards.

Joint statements by EU-envoys

Sources said, the government now closely monitors the activities of some diplomats and senior officials of international lending agencies as it finds their actions and remarks to have ‘crossed limit of tolerance’. Government’s displeasure with the diplomats started when the EU envoys issued a joint statement after the grisly killing of Awami League leader and former finance minister SAMS Kibria on January 27 in Habiganj.

A day after the Habiganj carnage the ambassadors of the European Union’s diplomatic missions in Dhaka issued a joint statement saying “the EU ambassadors are deeply concerned that the apparent failure to properly investigate previous attacks has led to a climate of impunity which encourages a continuation of such incidents.”

Position of the German and Danish ambassadors

German and Danish ambassadors have also expressed their concern over the present political situation in the country.

German ambassador Dietrich Andreas told a news agency on March 11 that Germany is ready to enter into a dialogue with the Bangladesh authorities on how to ensure free and fair elections. Terming the next general elections crucial for the country, Andreas said, ‘…the climate of insecurity has caused great concerns and is detrimental to Bangladesh’s development and image abroad.’

“Denmark has expressed serious concern at the deterioration of the governance situation, especially in law and order and political violence,” Danish ambassador to Bangladesh, Niels Severin Munk, told the same news agency on March 4.

German and Danish ambassadors were two of the European diplomats who attended last month’s ‘informal meeting’ of donors of Bangladesh in Washington, which made a critical reappraisal of the situation in Bangladesh.

“These two ambassadors were the most vocal at the meeting in raising their concerns about the situation in Bangladesh,” sources said.

Esko Kentrschynskyi, the ambassador of the European Union, amid raging debate over the deaths in crossfire in Bangladesh, termed it ‘extra-judicial killings’ and expressed deep concerns asking government to take steps to investigate into the killings during operations of the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

This was the first time an envoy of a foreign country expressed his opinion on crossfire deaths in public. Responding to an another question, he said it is of utmost importance for Bangladesh to separate the judiciary from the executive body of the government.

Vienna conventions

Sources said, the government has also decided to be stricter in implementing the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. Members of a diplomatic mission have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of the receiving State, said Article 41 of the convention.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations was adopted on April 14, 1961 by the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities held at Neue Hofburg in Vienna, Austria. The convention entered into force on April 24, 1964.
Mizanur Rahman Khan

EU cooperation with Bangladesh
Documents and Links

The cooperation with Bangladesh is based on the analysis and the objectives set out in the Country Strategy Paper (2002-2006). The overarching objective of the EC and Bangladesh is poverty eradication through a strategy of sustained, rapid pro-poor economic growth. To achieve this, the new strategy will focus on areas where it can offer comparative advantages. The EC in pursuing the objectives of poverty eradication will co-ordinate its efforts with the Government of Bangladesh and Civil Society. With the Country Strategy Paper, the EC will take further steps to increase complementarity between the EC, MS and other Donors’ co-operation strategies and between the EC development and economic co-operation. Between 2002 and 2006, the EC will prioritise its interventions to few areas, where greater effectiveness of EC aid will be achieved. The Country Strategy Paper will be as flexible as possible to accommodate changes in circumstances in Bangladesh and in EC.

Development Cooperation

The main aim of EC development co-operation is poverty alleviation. The social sector (especially health, social mobilisation and primary education) and food security are emphasised as priority areas. Since 1976, EC total co-operation (including food aid/security, humanitarian aid, NGO co-financing etc.) has amounted to 1.5 billion €. More...


Economic Cooperation
Current Projects and Programmes by sector


Economic co-operation between the EC and Bangladesh was seriously constrained until recently. because of the limited economic development of the country. Bangladesh has been a modest beneficiary of the Asia Programmes. The reasons range from the lack of access to information as these programmes are widely disseminated through internet, a medium still our of reach for many, including in government circles, to lack of capacity and means of potential partners in Bangladesh. The differentiated treatment for LDCs in the second phase of Asia Invest might be a positive development to enhance the participation of the country.

Furthermore, recent moves towards liberalisation of the country’s economy coupled with the expected growth of the industrial sector and the increased awareness that real development cannot come only from the rural sector, have increased economic co-operation opportunities.

Humanitarian Aid

The EU assistance in Bangladesh switched from classic food aid operations to a more comprehensive rural development co-operation introducing the concept of food security as an objective to be achieved in the longer term. Concerning EC bilateral food aid/food security assistance, the Commission has provided annually around 30 million Euro of food security support through the Government, WFP and NGOs.

Since 1994, humanitarian aid provided by the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) has played a crucial role in international emergency assistance responding to natural disasters (floods and cyclones), which struck Bangladesh. The supported emergency assistance projects, as well as DIPECHO projects, have contributed positively to reducing the impact of disasters in Bangladesh, and have provided impetus to flood mitigation and prevention.

Regional Cooperation

Regional integration and co-operation contribute to the integration of Asian countries into the world economy and play a decisive role in consolidating peace and preventing conflict. They enable the countries involved to face cross-border challenges in many fields, including the environment and the use and management of natural resources. In the light of its experience and of the instruments at its disposal, the EU is in a position to support efforts in this direction across the Asian continent.

The embassy assisted U.S. Christian-affiliated relief organizations in guiding paperwork for approval of schools and other projects through government channels. The Government has been receptive to the discussion of such subjects and generally helpful in resolving problems. The embassy has also acted as an advocate in the Home Ministry for these organizations in resolving problems with visas.

The Christianization of Bangladesh
by Saidul Islam – Iviews.com

(Although the numbers seem a little exaggerated and the entire article a little alarmist, the nefarious plot by these outside missionaries to create a ruling class of elitist, well-educated and wealthy Christians who may one day come to rule Bangladesh, is a very real and probable threat - ed)

Western non-governmental organizations are operating in all parts of the world. Many are doing great work in alleviating poverty and helping with development efforts. Unfortunately, some have hidden agendas. Presently Bangladesh has the NGO density of 3.5 foreign NGOs per square mile. Most of the foreign NGOs, under the banner of "development partner", are working to remove poverty and to bring education, and progress to the country. Their failure to do so has instead brought about an increase in tensions and social problems in Bangladesh.

Their hidden agenda is now evident. Their activities can best be described as 'the revived form of imperialism' and 'neo-colonialism,' a great threat to the entire nation and its majority Muslim population, estimated at 86%.

These organizations bring billions of dollars to help the poor people, but only 5% goes to the target group. The rest of money is spent to materialize their hidden agendas; to convert the indigenous population to Christianity.

In the 190 years of colonial rule in united Bengal, only 111,426 people were converted to Christianity. Out of this converts, about 50 thousand were citizens of Bangladesh. The number of Christians in the territory had risen by 400% from about 50,000 in 1947 to 200,000 in 1971. According to one estimate, in the period between 1971 and 1991, the number of Christian converts in Bangladesh has risen from 200,000 to 400,000.

Christian sources tend to underplay their numbers, but it is reported that their goal is to increase the Christian population to 10-12 million in the next 20 years.

The methods used by these NGOs are corruption, seduction and conversion. The policy of the most Christian NGOs is to employ Muslims last and to favor those who convert. The idea is to create an economically and educationally influential community of converts who would, in due course, like in many parts of Africa, control all the key sectors of power: education, economy, social policy, bureaucracy and military.

Apart from missionary activities, NGOs are increasingly assuming the role of invisible government having little regards to the history, culture, customs of people and rules and regulations of the government. They run a very powerful parallel government and they can undo any order of the government any time they like. The government in Bangladesh is now in a state of utter helplessness. They cannot overlook the volatile situation created by the NGOs nor can they take any action against NGOs involved in the activities incompatible with the national interest and the sovereignty of the state.

When the NGO Bureau of the government took action against two powerful NGOs -ADAB (Association of Development Agencies of Bangladesh) and SEBA (Society for Economic and Basic Administration) by canceling their registration on the ground of defalcation of funds and receiving money from a foreign embassy without prior permission or even the knowledge of the government, the foreign embassies allegedly compelled the government to withdraw the cancellation order within three hours of the issuance. After that incident, the government of Bangladesh has refrained from taking action against any NGOs and their executives, even when they become involved in undesirable activities including violating government rules and indulging in political activities.

NGOS make Bible reading compulsory for their staff, including the Muslims. One big missionary NGO employed only Christian teachers in its schools and a student had to be Christian before given board and lodging in its hostels.

While Bangladeshi students are only taught his or her religion in both private and public schools, the study of Christianity is compulsory for all students in most missionary schools.

In one case when the District Education Officer pointed out this irregularity, he was told the NGO was not obliged to provide an explanation.

The NGOs are also active in political campaigning, a strict violation of government rule. In many cases, they actively participate in the election, financed them and ran massive political campaigns for them.

What is the reaction of Muslim countries to the grave situation in a Muslim country? Are other Muslim countries or their embassies in Dhaka aware that a Muslim nation is transforming into a Christian dominant state like Lebanon or into another nation riddled with civil strife like the Sudan? Have they ever noted the mounting pressure from the Dhaka based Western Embassies to allow the NGOs to Christianize the country freely in an unfettered way in exchange of much needed capital for the industrialization of the country or providing electricity to the villages?

It appears that no country or Islamic organization has expressed concern over the increasing evangelization through NGO networks. It may be that the Muslim countries are not aware of the NGOs and their dangerous activities in Bangladesh. The extensive effort to evangelize Bangladesh is the part of an old dream of the Christian world and hence the web of neo-colonization.

It would be a positive factor in the quest for a solution to the vexing problem if the Muslims of Bangladesh and their friends abroad kept in mind that the pernicious efforts of the Christian world can only be halted by efforts of similar magnitude.

The Muslim Ummah owes great responsibility to safeguard the Muslims of Bangladesh against the plots, conspiracies and attacks of the Christian fundamentalists and the Christian NGOs on our custom, culture and ideology. If timely action is not taken by all concerned and NGO bombs are allowed to explode, a Lebanon-like situation will fast emerge in this country to the bewilderment of everybody. The Muslim NGOs working in Bangladesh are very insignificant. The situation demands from us to set up more and more Muslim NGOs to combat this great aggression of western imperialism.

Saidul Islam is a graduate of the International Islamic University of Malaysia and is currently doing his Masters in Sociology at York University in Toronto. Much of the author's statistics were based on published reports, including "A study on the role of NGOs in the abnormal growth of Christian Population in Bangladesh," Dhaka, 1993.