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[🇧🇩] U.K.---A development partner of Bangladesh

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Short Summary: Monitoring the ongoing partnership between Bangladesh and the U.K.

Saif

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Jan 24, 2024
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Date Occurred: Oct 29, 2024
A new deal for Bangladesh-UK partnership in uncertain times

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Both countries, therefore, need to explore together welfare regimes comprising notions of citizens’ income, universal basic services, and a Polanyian “de-commoditisation” of labour. VISUAL: ALIZA RAHMAN

Even before the recent change of government in the UK, its role in Bangladesh has been shifting, especially bilaterally. While it remains a funder to basic services and other programmes through its contributions to IFIs and UN agencies, as well as regional programmes and other global initiatives that include Bangladesh, such as the Girls Education Fund and climate change, its bilateral spending has reduced to a 20-year low. According to the Center for Global Development, a think tank based in Washington, DC and London, a further 900 million pounds will have to be diverted this year from the global UK aid budget to spend on asylum seekers in the UK. This represents a diversion of aid from overseas spending to meet domestic asylum pressures while still classifying that spending as ODA. Coincidentally, with Bangladesh approaching the developing country status, its social protection requirements are expected to be met by domestic revenue sources rather than aid. Due to its declining bilateral pot, UK Aid has shifted towards a stronger emphasis on strategic technical assistance to support policy reform—in other words, ideas and methods rather than cash.

The UK technical team in Dhaka focuses on strategic priorities like climate change, ongoing Rohingya emergency, gender, poverty among minorities and concerns for their political rights, civil society and conditions for democracy, and macroeconomic policies for growth within the SDG mantra of leaving "no one behind."

So much for where we are in terms of UK aid to Bangladesh. Given the desire in London for rethinking its position in the world, this is a good time for the interim government in Bangladesh to "place its order"! At the time of writing, the incoming Labour government has yet to share its approach to overseas aid. There are some hints, however. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has ordered a review of the DFID (i.e. UK Aid) and its current status in the Foreign Office as was. Also in a recent speech, he spoke of how he wants to modernise relationships with the Global South—more partnership, removing the paternalism of the post-colonial past. At the same time, former permanent secretary (2011-17), Sir Mark Lowcock, is about to publish a book with co-author Ranil Dissanayake, titled The Rise and Fall of the Department for International Development, attributing the DFID's "fall" to the capture of the UK Conservative Party by its right wing, populist factions. The book will offer proposals to the new incumbents at No.10 as they define the UK's position in a complex international landscape.

Exploring that Bangladesh-UK partnership is perhaps easier to do this side of August 5 than before. To me, as an independent observer, it comprises the following elements: expanding geopolitical alliances on key international issues which build on existing collaborations, e.g. over the Rohingya, but also over labour migration rights and protections; reform of global governance institutions (especially re climate change, planetary boundaries, and taxation on international financial transactions as advanced by Tobin); corporate governance and responsibility, i.e. not just referring to the state, or corporate social responsibility, but towards a more acceptable face of capitalism where the accumulation of private profits no longer free rides upon public goods—the RMG sector being a case in point, with its low-waged insecure employees "subsidising" low-waged, insecure consumers in the West; and controlling and eliminating corruption—very familiar in Bangladesh, and with implications for the UK; reducing the propensity and need to migrate permanently away from one's own culture, (thereby fracturing family life and identity) by inward combinations of socially progressive FDI and investment in human capital alongside facilitating circular temporary migration to the West or elsewhere; knowledge-building through encouraging university collaborations (as with India in the last decade or so through the UK-India Education and Research Initiative—UKIERI) and student internships and exchanges, perhaps especially within the Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK; investing in gender-balanced secondary education and FE skills provision including access to training and learning opportunities; and sharing HE and FE management approaches as those sectors expand.

There are also spreading the principles of inclusive democracy (including the taxation/citizenship nexus, as the underpinning of stakeholding and functional participation); devolution to sub-state political arenas, perhaps necessary in days gone by when communications were difficult, but again necessary for participatory citizenship as it is for the UK; leapfrogging options for Bangladesh in a digital age (e.g. in health, but of course also for inclusive education, especially if the classroom teaching cadre remains underdeveloped); understanding the distribution of poverty between systemic and idiosyncratic explanations, so important for policy choices between fiscal levers and household level intervention; developing well-being indicators, not just income/spending ones, as a guide to policy (for both partners); exploring the state/market boundaries for the regulated pursuit of social objectives; thus understanding the political settlement between rights-based entitlements; philanthropy; voluntarism; not-for-profit services; market opportunities—whether labour or entrepreneurial ones; and support for the Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK, especially youth, and particularly girls.

(Aspects of this agenda might constitute an argument for retaining DFID within FCDO to keep diplomacy, development and humanitarian aid in mutual support, though I would regret the loss of cabinet rank for international development, per se. The UK Treasury does have two cabinet rank positions as a model for similar representation in foreign affairs and international development.)

No doubt other items could be added to this list. But its main characteristic is that these issues no longer represent the idea of "aid" as flowing in one direction, from a rich to poor country within some postcolonial framework of institutionalised philanthropy, combined with an element of self-interest or historical guilt. Rather, this agenda occurs with a genuine framework of mutuality—these issues are shared issues, and sometimes interactive ones. Bangladesh, for example, has much contemporary experience in engaging with poverty and has much practice to share alongside innovative action-research around supporting poor people's entry directly into market opportunities, not just via employment. And as Bangladesh approaches the developing country status, any notion of "development" becomes replaced by a notion of "social policy," entailing revenue-funded public intervention derived from rights, not just over-narrow targeting. Both countries, therefore, need to explore together welfare regimes comprising notions of citizens' income, universal basic services, and a Polanyian "de-commoditisation" of labour. I have also interacted with sharp minds in Bangladesh around the idea of the smart economy, indeed the smart political economy.

There is a sense here in Bangladesh of creative excitement, hence leapfrogging in the list above. At the same time, the UK has institutional baggage to overcome from its own development past in terms of outmoded trading assumptions in a climate-sensitive world, and investment priorities/practices overinfluenced by comparative advantage thinking, which neglect "decent" work. Such baggage continues to fuel privileged "rents" via regional, class and gender inequalities both globally and within the UK. Bangladesh's future should not be to replicate that institutional baggage, while the UK with its new Labour government should now be trying to discard it. There is a rich partnership agenda. Let's embrace it.

Dr Geof Wood is a development anthropologist and author of several books and numerous journal articles, with a regional focus on South Asia. He is also emeritus professor of international development at the University of Bath, UK.​
 

Britain keen to invest in Bangladesh’s youth education: UK Deputy High Commissioner
UNB
Published :
Nov 15, 2024 18:27
Updated :
Nov 15, 2024 18:27

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James Goldman, the British Deputy High Commissioner and British Development Director in Bangladesh, said on Friday that the British government is eager to invest further in the education of young people in Bangladesh.

He made the remarks at the opening of the Second IHSB Inter-School Business Carnival, which is being held at the International Hope School Bangladesh (IHSB) in Uttara, Dhaka, from November 15 to 17.

The carnival, organised by the IHSB Business Club and supported by OkoTex, promotes business and entrepreneurship among students.

Goldman said, "The British government is investing in education in Bangladesh. Yesterday, I visited a school for underprivileged children funded by the British government. Today, I am here at the IHSB Business Carnival, and we are keen to invest further in the education of young people. It's great to see Sterling Education here. Partnerships like this between the UK and Bangladesh add value and foster collaboration."

The event features over 600 students from 50 prominent schools in Dhaka. Timothy Donald Fisher, CEO of Sterling Education, who also attended the event, emphasised Sterling Education's commitment to supporting education in Bangladesh and creating opportunities for teachers and students. He added that IHSB's initiatives, such as the Business Carnival, Bangla Olympiad, and STEM Fest, aim to develop entrepreneurial and self-reliant students who contribute to the nation's growth.

The carnival includes three competitions: "Friedman's Fallacy," where students address economic issues; "Pitch Perfect," where they present business plans; and "Marketing Mania," which tests business skills. Biman Bangladesh Airlines will reward the best business idea with a special gift.

In addition to the student competitions, there will be an exhibition and fair featuring products from 20 top business groups. The fair, open to the public from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM on Friday and Saturday, will offer business advice and showcase student-run stalls with food and other items.

The closing ceremony on November 17 will feature a welcome address by the school principal, Roksana Zarin, and speeches from special guests, including Dilruba Tonu, Managing Director of Hi-Tech Park, and Golam Samdani Don, a corporate entrepreneur and trainer.

The event will end with a cultural performance by the band Shunno.​
 

Bangladesh's people deserve 'peaceful future': UK minister
Scheduled to meet chief adviser, foreign adviser tomorrow

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Catherine West

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West, who arrived here yesterday, said the people of Bangladesh deserve a pathway to a "peaceful future and accountability" after a turbulent few months.

"I am here to discuss how the UK can best support the work of the interim government to stabilise its economy and move towards a peaceful and democratic future," she said.

The UK minister is expected to meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain tomorrow, marking the first UK ministerial visit to the country since the formation of the interim government.

She will discuss her country's ongoing support for political and economic reforms, security, trade cooperation and UK-Bangladesh migration.

The British minister said Bangladesh and the UK share a unique and historic partnership, cemented by people-to-people ties and shared commonwealth values.

The visit also includes meetings with political and business leaders and civil society.

West said, "The UK supports the interim government's work to build a more prosperous and democratic future for the Bangladeshi people."

She will announce new UK funding to support Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi communities which host them with essential services and assistance.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said, "I am delighted to welcome UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West to Bangladesh."

This visit will deepen and broaden the UK's economic and security partnership with Bangladesh, said the high commissioner.

"Bangladesh is currently undergoing a transformation, and as a longstanding friend, the UK will assist in the economic and political reforms which will help Bangladesh continue its social and economic growth as it moves towards an inclusive and democratic future."​
 

Bangladesh expresses strong discontent over UK parliamentary group’s remarks
Foreign adviser tells high commissioner

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Photo: Courtesy/UNB

Bangladesh has expressed strong discontent over what it termed "misleading statements" by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) of the UK regarding the deaths and minority issues in the country.

Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain conveyed this sentiment to British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke during a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

"I told her [British high commissioner to Bangladesh] that we are very hurt because there has been an attempt to show that there have been more deaths after August 5. This is completely false," he told reporters after his meeting with High Commissioner Cooke.

Touhid said he invited her to his office to present Bangladesh's position and requested her to relay the actual situation on the ground.

The adviser shared two incidents—two members of the British Parliament delivered speeches on the minority situation in Bangladesh on November 2.

He informed the UK high commissioner about misinformation in those speeches. Apart from that, some British-based organisations have presented some information that does not reflect the authentic on-the-ground information.

"Members of Parliament can say whatever they want; there is nothing anyone can do here. But I have requested the British high commissioner to inform the British government of Bangladesh's position on this issue," Hossain said.

In response, Cooke assured the adviser that she would pass on the message and suggested that Bangladesh's mission in London could also take steps to communicate the accurate narrative, he said.

Hossain shared with the high commissioner that nearly 1,500 people were killed before August 5, and the statement completely misrepresented the events of the July-August uprising.

The foreign adviser also said some incidents may have occurred after August 5.

"However, the way it has been portrayed is not correct. It's absolutely not correct."​
 

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