Media Center

News Release

Stakeholder Consultations To Develop New Country Strategy and Program for Bangladesh

DHAKA, BANGLADESH (20 September 2003) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans four regional consultation workshops in September and October as part of the process to develop a new Country Strategy and Program (CSP) for Bangladesh.

In preparing the CSP, ADB will hear the views of Government and other stakeholders, including project beneficiaries, on the country's development agenda and the role that development partners, especially ADB, could play in assisting the Government to pursue this agenda.

The first regional consultation workshop is due to be held at Barisal on 22 September and over 60 representatives from civil society/nongovernment organizations (NGOs), women's groups, business groups, researchers, journalists, poor communities, and local government agencies are expected to participate. The remaining three regional consultation workshops will be held in Sylhet, Rajshahi, and Chittagong.

Consultations with Government agencies are planned from late October to mid November 2003 to coincide with ADB's annual Country Program Confirmation Mission.

More consultations with major NGOs, the private sector, development partners, and academics are expected to be held in Dhaka in the coming months.

The CSP will support implementation of the Government's recently completed National Strategy for Economic Growth, Poverty Reduction, and Social Development.

The CSP is expected to be submitted to ADB's Board of Directors for consideration next year.